Elephant Toothpaste
- Page ID
- 222063
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Instant treat to eat, but do not each too much.
\[ 2 H_2O_2 \overset{\text{catalyst}}{\longrightarrow} O_{2(g)} + 2H_2O_{(l)}\]
Concept
A catalyst is used to start a chemical reaction. The catalyst aids to a reaction and speeds up the reaction process.
Materials
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Explanation & Reaction
The point of this demo is to decompose the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as rapidly as possible, which generates gaseous oxygen (O2). When combined with simple dishwashing soap, you get rapid formation of bubbles.
\[2 H_2O_{2(aq)} \rightarrow 2 H_2O_{(l)} + O_{2 (g)} + \text{energy} \tag{1}\]
This decomposition reaction can be catalyzed with iodide ions by introducing KI (aq).
\[H_2O_{2 (aq)} + I^-_{(aq)} \rightarrow OI^-_{(aq)} + H_2O_{(l)} \tag{2}\]
\[H_2O_{2 (aq)} + OI^-_{ (aq)} \rightarrow I^-_{(aq)} + H_2O_{(l)} + O_{2(g)} \tag{3}\]
Another difference in this experiment is the difference between the symbols for hydrogen peroxide verses water. Water has the symbol H2O, while hydrogen peroxide has the symbol \(H_2O_2\). This difference is seems slight, but it is a huge difference when doing this experiment.
Safety
- Always wear plastic gloves when working with 30 % hydrogen peroxide. Also be extremely careful when working with this substance. It will burn your skin if you touch it.
- Always wear safety goggles when doing this experiment. The foam shoots very high out of the cylinder and could go towards you face.
- After the experiment, wait a considerable amount of time before handling. The cylinder does become hot and is dangerous to hold.
Waste Disposal
- The foam can be disposed of down the sink. And the empty beakers, as well, can be cleaned safely in the sink.
- Do not eat anything here. It may look tasty, but control yourself.
References
- Stone, C. H. J. Chem. Ed.1944, 21, 300.
Outside Links
Contributors
- Charles Ophardt, Professor Emeritus, Elmhurst College; Virtual Chembook