Samuel wants to make something called “elephant toothpaste.” It’s a chemical reaction that creates lots of white foam that looks like toothpaste for an elephant! Samuel knows that the reaction happens when two ingredients are mixed together. He also knows that one of the ingredients is hydrogen peroxide. Samuel doesn’t know what the other ingredient is. Using the ingredients shown in the picture above, describe the steps of an experiment that Samuel could perform to figure out what he needs to make “elephant toothpaste.”

Answer 1

1. Start by setting up a safe work area with protective equipment such as safety goggles and gloves.

2. Gather the hydrogen peroxide and each of the other ingredients shown in the picture above: dish soap, food coloring, and yeast.

3. Begin by mixing the hydrogen peroxide with each of the other ingredients separately in small containers. Start by mixing a small amount of hydrogen peroxide with a small amount of dish soap, then a small amount with food coloring, and finally a small amount with yeast.

4. Observe the reactions that occur when the hydrogen peroxide is mixed with each of the other ingredients. Look for signs of a foaming reaction similar to “elephant toothpaste."

5. Once you have identified which combination of ingredients produces the desired foam, you have found the missing ingredient needed to make “elephant toothpaste.”

6. Once you have identified the correct ingredients, you can then mix them together in the appropriate proportions to create the “elephant toothpaste” reaction.

7. Repeat the experiment as needed to ensure consistent results and have fun making “elephant toothpaste!”