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	<id>https://sciencetheatre.kaedon.net/mediawiki/index.php?action=history&amp;feed=atom&amp;title=Elephant_Toothpaste</id>
	<title>Elephant Toothpaste - Revision history</title>
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	<updated>2026-07-31T09:04:38Z</updated>
	<subtitle>Revision history for this page on the wiki</subtitle>
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	<entry>
		<id>https://sciencetheatre.kaedon.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Elephant_Toothpaste&amp;diff=365&amp;oldid=prev</id>
		<title>imported&gt;Stwikiadmin at 21:47, 7 June 2016</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://sciencetheatre.kaedon.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Elephant_Toothpaste&amp;diff=365&amp;oldid=prev"/>
		<updated>2016-06-07T21:47:53Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;table style=&quot;background-color: #fff; color: #202122;&quot; data-mw=&quot;interface&quot;&gt;
				&lt;col class=&quot;diff-marker&quot; /&gt;
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				&lt;td colspan=&quot;2&quot; style=&quot;background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;← Older revision&lt;/td&gt;
				&lt;td colspan=&quot;2&quot; style=&quot;background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;Revision as of 21:47, 7 June 2016&lt;/td&gt;
				&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td colspan=&quot;2&quot; class=&quot;diff-lineno&quot; id=&quot;mw-diff-left-l41&quot;&gt;Line 41:&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;td colspan=&quot;2&quot; class=&quot;diff-lineno&quot;&gt;Line 41:&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td class=&quot;diff-marker&quot;&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;#*&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Note: Be dramatic when saying that it is breaking down! Act like it is exploding the moment you say this, and give the audience a few seconds to laugh at your overreaction.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td class=&quot;diff-marker&quot;&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;#*&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Note: Be dramatic when saying that it is breaking down! Act like it is exploding the moment you say this, and give the audience a few seconds to laugh at your overreaction.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td class=&quot;diff-marker&quot;&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;# Point out that it is a slow reaction, and show the catalyst that you will be adding in. Measure out 10mL of the catalyst using the centrifuge tube, and then ask for a countdown. Pour it in at the end of the countdown, and watch as it turns into a big pile of bubbles!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td class=&quot;diff-marker&quot;&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;# Point out that it is a slow reaction, and show the catalyst that you will be adding in. Measure out 10mL of the catalyst using the centrifuge tube, and then ask for a countdown. Pour it in at the end of the countdown, and watch as it turns into a big pile of bubbles!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td class=&quot;diff-marker&quot; data-marker=&quot;−&quot;&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;# Use the rising steam from the reaction to introduce the term &quot;exothermic&quot;. Finish by explaining how the catalyst made the reaction faster, using either the [[#&lt;del style=&quot;font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;&quot;&gt;hill metaphor&lt;/del&gt;]] or the [[#&lt;del style=&quot;font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;&quot;&gt;race metaphor&lt;/del&gt;]] for younger audiences.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td class=&quot;diff-marker&quot; data-marker=&quot;+&quot;&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;# Use the rising steam from the reaction to introduce the term &quot;exothermic&quot;. Finish by explaining how the catalyst made the reaction faster, using either the [[#&lt;ins style=&quot;font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;&quot;&gt;Hill Metaphor&lt;/ins&gt;]] or the [[#&lt;ins style=&quot;font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;&quot;&gt;Race Metaphor&lt;/ins&gt;]] for younger audiences.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td class=&quot;diff-marker&quot;&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td class=&quot;diff-marker&quot;&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td class=&quot;diff-marker&quot;&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;== Why This Works ==&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td class=&quot;diff-marker&quot;&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;== Why This Works ==&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>imported&gt;Stwikiadmin</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://sciencetheatre.kaedon.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Elephant_Toothpaste&amp;diff=364&amp;oldid=prev</id>
		<title>imported&gt;Stwikiadmin at 21:47, 7 June 2016</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://sciencetheatre.kaedon.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Elephant_Toothpaste&amp;diff=364&amp;oldid=prev"/>
		<updated>2016-06-07T21:47:14Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;a href=&quot;https://sciencetheatre.kaedon.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Elephant_Toothpaste&amp;amp;diff=364&amp;amp;oldid=363&quot;&gt;Show changes&lt;/a&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>imported&gt;Stwikiadmin</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://sciencetheatre.kaedon.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Elephant_Toothpaste&amp;diff=363&amp;oldid=prev</id>
		<title>imported&gt;Stwikiadmin: Created page with &quot;== Age ==  Middle School, High School  == Format ==  Stage Show  == Materials ==      100 mL or 1 L graduated cylinder     Dish soap     30% Hydrogen peroxide (H2­O2)     Food c...&quot;</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://sciencetheatre.kaedon.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Elephant_Toothpaste&amp;diff=363&amp;oldid=prev"/>
		<updated>2013-09-11T14:28:46Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Created page with &amp;quot;== Age ==  Middle School, High School  == Format ==  Stage Show  == Materials ==      100 mL or 1 L graduated cylinder     Dish soap     30% Hydrogen peroxide (H2­O2)     Food c...&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;table style=&quot;background-color: #fff; color: #202122;&quot; data-mw=&quot;interface&quot;&gt;
				&lt;tr class=&quot;diff-title&quot; lang=&quot;en&quot;&gt;
				&lt;td colspan=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;← Older revision&lt;/td&gt;
				&lt;td colspan=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;Revision as of 14:28, 11 September 2013&lt;/td&gt;
				&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td colspan=&quot;2&quot; class=&quot;diff-notice&quot; lang=&quot;en&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;mw-diff-empty&quot;&gt;(No difference)&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/table&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>imported&gt;Stwikiadmin</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://sciencetheatre.kaedon.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Elephant_Toothpaste&amp;diff=73&amp;oldid=prev</id>
		<title>imported&gt;Stwikiadmin: Created page with &quot;== Age ==  Middle School, High School  == Format ==  Stage Show  == Materials ==      100 mL or 1 L graduated cylinder     Dish soap     30% Hydrogen peroxide (H2­O2)     Food c...&quot;</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://sciencetheatre.kaedon.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Elephant_Toothpaste&amp;diff=73&amp;oldid=prev"/>
		<updated>2013-09-11T14:28:46Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Created page with &amp;quot;== Age ==  Middle School, High School  == Format ==  Stage Show  == Materials ==      100 mL or 1 L graduated cylinder     Dish soap     30% Hydrogen peroxide (H2­O2)     Food c...&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;New page&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;== Age ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Middle School, High School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Format ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Stage Show&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Materials ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
    100 mL or 1 L graduated cylinder&lt;br /&gt;
    Dish soap&lt;br /&gt;
    30% Hydrogen peroxide (H2­O2)&lt;br /&gt;
    Food coloring&lt;br /&gt;
    50 mL centrifuge tube&lt;br /&gt;
    Saturated potassium iodide (KI) solution (100 g KI to 70 mL water)&lt;br /&gt;
    Garbage bags or tarp&lt;br /&gt;
    Small fish tank &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Safety Precautions ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Science Theatre demonstrators must keep the safety of themselves and their audience in mind at all times. All Science Theatre demonstrators must have read through the Safety Training page. The ST Safety Box with first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc. should always be available to demonstrators. Always wear safety gloves, glasses, and a labcoat if handling chemicals; always perform potentially dangerous demonstrations at a safe distance from the audience; and always keep a very close eye on any volunteers you call from the audience.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidizer, do not allow it to touch your skin. Do not allow any KI to get onto your skin. It will stain your clothes permanently. Wear gloves, goggles, and perhaps a labcoat. When performing the exothermic reaction ensure that observers are about four feet away. DO NOT allow children to touch the “toothpaste.”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924299: 30% Hydrogen Peroxide MSDS]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9926001: Potassium Iodide MSDS]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Preparation ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ensure prior to your show that you have enough saturated KI solution and hydrogen peroxide. Immediately before your show, lay out garbage bags (or tarp) under your experiment area. Half fill small fish tank with water, so you can clean out the graduated cylinder between presentations.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Demonstration ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Pour about 20 mL (1/5 of the total volume of the cylinder) of hydrogen peroxide into the cylinder. Pour about 5 mL of soap into the 100 mL graduated cylinder. Then add 4 drops of food coloring. Measure out about 5 mL of KI solution. Ensure that people are standing a safe distance away. Then, add the KI to the graduated cylinder, and step back. Note the steam coming off the foam produced by the O2 gas.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== What to Say ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Pour the hydrogen peroxide into the cylinder and explain that a reaction is going on... can you see it? Probably not - even though hydrogen peroxide is constantly decomposing into water (H2O) and oxygen gas (O2), it goes so slowly that it looks like nothing is happening.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We can use a catalyst to make this reaction more exciting! A catalyst is a chemical that speeds up a reaction, but doesn&amp;#039;t actually get used up. Think of the chemical reaction like trying to walk up big hill. It takes a lot of energy to get up that hill, so you will walk (you can act out walking up a hill). If there was a tunnel through the hill, you could walk through it a lot faster and use a lot less energy (act out easy walking). Adding a catalyst is like blasting a tunnel through a big hill - it makes the reaction go faster because it takes less energy! For older audiences, you can draw out a reaction coordinate diagram (see below).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Before you add the KI have the kids give you a 3, 2, 1 countdown. Then add the catalyst. Have them note that the “toothpaste” is smoking. The oxygen that was released is the gas trapped within the soap, making the bubbles. Depending on the age of the audience you could discuss exothermic reactions, and how they give off heat. This occurs because the water and oxygen that the hydrogen peroxide breaks down into are more stable than its original peroxide form. Therefore the excess energy is released in the form of heat. To prove that oxygen is present in the mixture you may take a glowing splint and stick it into the foam and it will light - do this with great caution!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Why It Is ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The whole premise behind using catalysts is that they lower the amount of energy you need to put into a reaction for it to occur. In an uncatalyzed reaction you have to put in a significant amount more energy, activation energy, in order to initiate the reaction. However, upon the addition of a catalyst the activation energy of the reaction is lowered because the catalyst offers a different mechanism of achieving the transition state between the reactants and products. Thus, not as much energy has to be expended to convert the reactants to the transition state and then to the products.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Real Life Examples ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Some products that are made in a process involving a catalyst include:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
    Garbage bags&lt;br /&gt;
    Grocery bags&lt;br /&gt;
    Squeezable bottles &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
These are all made from polyethylene, which is polymerizes by passing ethylene gas over a catalyst. Most other polymers are made in the same (or similar) way. Synthetic rubber, nylon, Polyester, PVC, Teflon. These are used to produce:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
    bouncy balls&lt;br /&gt;
    pantyhose&lt;br /&gt;
    cell-phone and laptop cases&lt;br /&gt;
    rain coats&lt;br /&gt;
    water pipes&lt;br /&gt;
    non-stick surfaces and pads&lt;br /&gt;
    saran wrap&lt;br /&gt;
    food containers&lt;br /&gt;
    cheap wigs&lt;br /&gt;
    fishing line &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Catalytic converters are platinum and rhodium - based pollution scrubbers in car exhausts.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;quot;haber process&amp;quot;, a well known catalytic reaction, is used to produce the nitrogen used in most modern-day fertilizer.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laundry detergent often contain active enzymes (organic catalysts) that speed up cleaning by breaking down certain compounds.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Beer and bread are typically made with yeast, a living organism containing enzymes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Finally, the human body itself couldn&amp;#039;t work without enzymes – they&amp;#039;re used by cells to grow, reproduce, and create energy.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>imported&gt;Stwikiadmin</name></author>
	</entry>
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