Making Elephant Toothpaste: Yeast vs. Iodide

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Here we cover how to make elephant toothpaste using several different popular ingredients.

What you'll need for elephant toothpaste:
-hydrogen peroxide, yeast, water, and liquid dish soap. In this video we experiment with different ingredients to use, replacing yeast with potassium iodide (sodium iodide would work as well) and 3% hydrogen peroxide with 35% hydrogen peroxide.

Note: 35% hydrogen peroxide can be bought online, but it can often also be found at many health food stores in the refrigerated section. Potassium iodide is best bought online. To make the iodide solution, add a spoonful of it into 2 TBSP of water and stir. Keep adding iodide until it no longer dissolves after stirring.

Safety: 35% hydrogen peroxide can burn skin, so wear gloves and get adult supervision. The iodide forms iodine which stains really bad, so use caution and do the experiment on a surface you don't mind getting dirty (like outside).

Squint Science makes science videos for kids and adults. Check out our other videos or follow us on the socials:

[SquintScience]

Links for where to buy the material for this reaction (hydrogen peroxide 35%, potassium iodide) are in the description.

[qprez]

Finally a video of this where the person actually reveals what ingredients he used to do the experiment. Wish I could thumbs up this video 1000 times.

[geumdisrud]

Thank you for this this is exacly what i need for a science project without having to do the actual experiment

[ninasmaragdas]

All the variables I needed to compare in one video. Perfect. Thank you!

[enjillneer]

THANK YOU FOR THE LINKS AND FOR EXPLAINING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YEAST AND IODIDE REACTIONS AND WHAT"S NEEDED FOR A HUGE BURST OF FOAM!

[macplaysroblox]

this is so cool ima do this for my science fair on Friday

[jamesodgers]

So many variables to choose from - can make for a very interesting practical report.

[verychocolatechip]

I’m just happy that i can do this with out getting in trouble be i have a project

[cynthiabauer]

awesome, thank you for this video, I bought all the required stuff, they arrive tomorrow, I'll make a prototype, this sunday I'm going to the birthday of a person who wishes to see a volcano but we couldn't arrange travel plans in time so I'm making this miniature volcano instead

[keteralmighty]

thank you, i am watching this for science in school!

[deborahbrazil]

This looks like a wonderful idea for a 'Harry Potter Potions class'

[popamanraeva]

How much potassium iodide crystals do you use to dissolve in the water for one expirement

[moafighting]

I'm doing the yeast one (possibly) in my science class next week, definetly going to be less cool but still fun!!! <3

[wesfin]

Packet of yeast: 8g
3 tbsp water: 44g (but 30g 4:1 may work better)

2 tbsp water: 30g
Add KI until no longer dissolves, probably 100% 1:1 concentration

[captainpanda]

What is the measurement of potassium iodide crystals in the solution? I know that it's 2 tbsp of water; is it the same amount of the crystals? Perhaps just 1 tbsp?

[cchershey]

So just making sure those links are what I need because I faild trying this befor so just making sure

[SSH.]

Hey can you answer this question? Does the yeast one burn?



Edit: also if I wear gloves with the hydrogen peroxide can I touch it or no?

[NotThatGuyWhoScreams]

Are you supposed to use all of the potassium iodide in 1 reaction? If not, exactly how much do you need?

[ericascott]

Love the video!!! I currently have a 5000mL flask should I double the experiment or will the reaction for the 35% still have the same reaction? Wasn’t sure if our flask is wayyyy too big.

[anitaimm]

My grandchildren and I have tried this with iodide and 35% peroxide. We were very disappointed because it did not “explode” into the air. It looked like the yeast when it poured over. Any hints?