If you look up this experiment online, it'll tell you that you to use 6% hydrogen peroxide that you buy from a salon supply store. Turns out, 3% also works well enough. I really didn't think it would, but was happy when it did. So was he.
Looks fun! I've seen this experiment posted many times on interest but was never sure what the purpose was - other than it is always cool when something won't stop coming out of a bottle. I guess it's time to look it up and see for myself!
I don't really know what the purpose is either other than the fun factor. But my son figured out he could also blow bubbles with it. The yeast makes it weird.
We do this for chemistry lectures at a college level. We use 30% H2O2 and soap mixture in a graduated cylinder. 3% works awesome as well! I'm glad you tried it anyway. We use a different catalyst instead of yeast but it does the same thing! Hydrogen Peroxide is constantly decomposing into water and oxygen. That's why hydrogen peroxide bottles have an expiration date- eventually it becomes more diluted as the H2O2 becomes water. This reaction occurs quicker when exposed to light- which is also why hydrogen peroxide comes in dark amber bottles! The yeast is a catalyst and speeds up the reaction super super quickly. The soap catches the released oxygen in bubbles! We always tell a story when presenting to younger kids: "I have a pet elephant at home. Elephants eat lots of hay. And elephants have a whole lot of teeth! I have a giant toothbrush. But what else do I need? Lots of toothpaste!" The soap bubbles coming out of a bottle looks a bit like toothpaste!
Looks fun! I've seen this experiment posted many times on interest but was never sure what the purpose was - other than it is always cool when something won't stop coming out of a bottle. I guess it's time to look it up and see for myself!
ReplyDeleteShows how experimenting with photo angles can also really make a difference.
ReplyDeleteI don't really know what the purpose is either other than the fun factor. But my son figured out he could also blow bubbles with it. The yeast makes it weird.
ReplyDeleteWe do this for chemistry lectures at a college level. We use 30% H2O2 and soap mixture in a graduated cylinder. 3% works awesome as well! I'm glad you tried it anyway. We use a different catalyst instead of yeast but it does the same thing! Hydrogen Peroxide is constantly decomposing into water and oxygen. That's why hydrogen peroxide bottles have an expiration date- eventually it becomes more diluted as the H2O2 becomes water. This reaction occurs quicker when exposed to light- which is also why hydrogen peroxide comes in dark amber bottles! The yeast is a catalyst and speeds up the reaction super super quickly. The soap catches the released oxygen in bubbles! We always tell a story when presenting to younger kids: "I have a pet elephant at home. Elephants eat lots of hay. And elephants have a whole lot of teeth! I have a giant toothbrush. But what else do I need? Lots of toothpaste!" The soap bubbles coming out of a bottle looks a bit like toothpaste!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this explanation Emma! You're the coolest.
ReplyDelete