But adding a little dish soap provides additional surface tension, allowing the bubbles to get trapped and creating lots of foam. These bubbles would usually escape from the liquid and pop quickly. This means that if you mix yeast with hydrogen peroxide, the hydrogen peroxide will rapidly break down into water and oxygen gas. Catalase is present in almost all living things that are exposed to oxygen, and it helps them break down naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide. Yeast is an organism that contains a special chemical called catalase that can act as a catalyst to help break down hydrogen peroxide. But you can make that reaction happen faster! How? By adding a catalyst. Normally this breakdown happens very slowly. When hydrogen peroxide breaks down, it turns into oxygen (O 2) and water (H 2O). It also breaks down when exposed to light, which is why it usually comes in dark brown bottles. You usually find it in a 3 percent concentration (although higher concentrations are available, they are more dangerous and must be handled carefully).

It is available in different strengths, or concentrations. But what is it? It is a liquid made from hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms (its chemical formula is H 2O 2).

You might be familiar with hydrogen peroxide as an antiseptic used to clean cuts and scrapes, which it does by killing bacteria. With just a few ingredients you can make something that looks like foamy toothpaste being squeezed from a tube-but so big that it looks almost fit for an elephant! Create a giant foaming reaction, and use science to wow your friends with this classic activity.

What is elephant's toothpaste