Electrical Conductivity of Liquids and Solutions
Lecture size Breath Alcohol Test
Reaction of Potassium Metal with Bromine
Reduction of Copper Oxide by Hydrogen
Using Large Glass Cylinders to Demonstrate Precipitation Reactions
Coin-Operated Red, White, and Blue Fountain: Reaction of Nitric Acid and Copper
Conductivity of Acetic Acid – Water Mixture
Effects of Ion-Exchange Resin on Conductivity
Oxidation of Chloride Ion by Permanganate
Elephant’s Toothpaste
Description: Three solutions are mixed together and copious foam is produced along with a color change to yellow. This is primarily an attention-getter.
Source: UW Card Catalog
Year: N/A Vol: N/A Page: N/A
Keywords: Hydrogen peroxide, Potassium iodide, Detergent, Dawn
Rating: 
Hazard: Medium
- Acute toxicity hazard – oral, inhalation
- Skin corrosion hazard
- Oxidizer
- Scald hazard
- Burn hazard
- Serious eye damage
- Aquatic toxicity hazard – short-term, long term
Effectiveness: Good
- Good connection from demo to course material
- Results are clearly observable without guidance
- Time to results is low
- Strong effects are seen by audience
- High reliability
Difficulty: Medium
- Some intermediate steps to results
- Use of toxic or reactive chemicals
- Avoid generated steam or vapors
- Prior practice recommended
- Simple procedures
- Simple manipulations for most to perform
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required
- Lab coat recommended
- Thermal gloves recommended
- Perform in a well-ventilated area
- Recommended ceiling height – three meters
- Do not stopper bottles used in demonstration
- Prevent release of reagents into the environment
Class: Gas Producing Reaction, Catalysis
Division: General
The demonstration Elephant’s Toothpaste may be found under Kinetics- Elephant’s Toothpaste.
Return to General Chemistry Demonstrations