is elephant toothpaste bad for the environment

There are a few plastic-free toothpaste tubes out there; for example, Goodwell Co .'s toothpaste comes in a sugarcane-based tube, and toothpaste by Davids is packaged in a recyclable . The usual Elephant's Toothpaste is soap and hydrogen peroxide, so no, not edible (strictly speaking). Measure 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide, and carefully pour it into the bottle. Most of them have names we only expect to see in science movies, like Helidone Pink or Brilliant Blue FCF. It's a chemical used in anti-freeze. There is a lot of examples like that: burning of natural gas, Decomposition of vegetable matter intocompost or nuclear chain reaction. It's a harmful substance that remains in water even after passing through sewage systems. No, elephant toothpaste is not hazardous. Foamy substance created by rapidly decomposing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), "The Great Elephant Toothpaste Experiment! Elephant Toothpaste. Elephant Toothpaste Formula: A Steve Spangler Science Exclusive . Secondly, health is a top concern; if you have sensitive gums or stained teeth, you might choose a specific toothpaste that is formulated to help those health concerns. Mosquito repellent. Hydrogen peroxide normally decomposes (breaks down into separate elements), and combining it with detergent and yeast (a catalyst) speeds up the process. Reindeers Elephants Toothpaste ExperimentReindeers toothpaste is a fun winter and Christmas experiment. 1072 Words. About. He combines it with three or more tablespoons of warm water in a separate small container, and mixes it for about 30 seconds, until the mixture has the consistency of "melted ice cream." Elephant Toothpaste Recipe. In order for toothpaste to be more environmentally friendly, it must use plastic-free packaging and contain ingredients that are not harmful to the planet. Support wikiHow by ", "Elephant Toothpaste: A Hydrogen Peroxide Chemistry Experiment", "NASA Engineer Sets Elephant Toothpaste Fountain World Record", "YouTuber Mark Rober throws birthday party for Rocky River boy with brain cancer", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elephant%27s_toothpaste&oldid=1134755182, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing more detailed references, Pages that use a deprecated format of the chem tags, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 20 January 2023, at 12:56. News and Updates. #plasticfreejuly, A post shared by Huppy Toothpaste Tablets (@huppy) on Jul 14, 2020 at 8:43am PDT. (In video #1 the stream of bubbles was fatter, and in video #2 there's no soap.) The large volume of oxygen is generated, and together with dish soap, it turns into a foam. Older Post Never run out of ink and save up to 50% all starting at $0.99 a month. If the hydrogen peroxide comes in contact with your skin - rinse it with copious water to get it off. The movement of the foam looks like toothpaste squirting out of a tube while the amount of foam usually is enough for an elephant to brush its teeth. Formulated with plant-based ingredients like eucalyptus, coconut oil, sodium cocoyl isethionate (derived from coconut), xylitol, bentonite, charcoal powder, licorice root, and more, even though these toothpastes and tabs also go down the drain, they wont harm the environment when they inevitably make their way to the waterways. Many companies opt for organic toothpaste because it is healthier for your mouth and better for the environment. Swirl together. Yes. Please be aware the concentrated hydrogen peroxide (greater than the household 3%) is a strong oxidizer. Do not attempt without proper safety precautions and the presence of an adult. Toothpaste tubes (which cannot be recycled and last forever) is not!! Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen. -If you are using the original elephant toothpaste recipe, be careful not to get any on your skin, as it can cause burns. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. You can sop that up and recycle the plastic you put down, like Uhas and Dobrik did. This experiment is sometimes called "Elephant's Toothpaste" because it looks like toothpaste coming out of a tube but giant to fit an elephants size. Yeast or . [6] About 5-10 drops of food coloring could also be added before the catalyst to dramatize the effect. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Plus, the biodegradable product does not use a cardboard packaging box, thereby reducing its weight and making transportation much easier. Usually, this reaction is prolonged. We learn to do something for our health, so we want to keep doing it. Uhas told Insider that he tried the experiment inside Dobrik's house, and the stained ceiling now rejects new coats of paint because the iodide seeps through. When she's not blogging or spending time with her family, you can usually find her rooting around in the garden or at the hardware store. I am curious how it goes for you. (optional) Run a few drops of food coloring down the sides of the cylinder for a striping effect. Elephant's toothpaste is a foamy substance that's created when you combine water, hydrogen peroxide, yeast, and dish soap. The audience should be kept back to prevent them from getting any of the foam on them and to protect from the heat. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Research from the University of Gothenburg in 2014 examined the ingredients in multiple kinds of toothpaste and explained their properties. The YouTubers use 20-Volume hydrogen peroxide, which is a 6% solution that's stronger than the kind found in pharmacies or drug stores. They foam up, thanks to safe and non-toxic ingredients, becoming a kind of paste. The elephant toothpaste experiment is safe to touch after 3 minutes. If you want an environmentally friendly toothpaste that is 100% made of natural ingredients, then you should try Butter Me Up's toothpastes! We are curious what are your suggestions and results. [9] We can align on these common standards for tubes and still compete with what's inside them.. Plus, they are often vegan as well. Elephants toothpasteis a foamy substance caused by the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using potassium permangamate or potassium iodide as a catalysts. To start, you just need to gather a few materials. Usually, this reaction is prolonged. . Wear safety goggles. Regular elephant toothpaste wouldn't work, so I found an alternate. It creates more foam than the standard 3% solution, and can be used to lighten hair, so many beauty supply stores carry it. : 50 Fun Experiments for the Mad Scientist in You, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Put your safety glasses on. Put the yeast in a small cup or bowl, and add about 3 tablespoons of warm water to activate it. It is quick but does require a prior preparation, as some of the materials required for the experiment might not be already available in your pantry. WARNING:This experiment uses chemicals that can irritate skin and damage clothes, so make sure to use safety goggles, lab apron, and nitrile gloves. I am curious how it goes for you. Elephant's toothpaste is a foamy substance caused by the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using potassium iodide or yeast and warm water . as well as other partner offers and accept our, Screenshot YouTube/Mark Rober (L), Nick Uhas (R). Pour one cup of hydrogen peroxide into the bottle. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. If you use the 3% solution found in pharmacies, you can touch the foam afterward. First and foremost, no one wants to brush and rinse with a toothpaste that tastes terrible, so flavor is key. The experiment uses a highly corrosive substance, hydrogen peroxide, which can cause skin irritation and burns. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider To make elephant toothpaste, mix 3 tablespoons of warm water with 1 tablespoon of yeast in a bowl. One alternative is toothpaste tablets. In this guide, we investigate, score, and rank the ethical and environmental record of 39 brands of toothpaste and mouthwash. The toothpaste powder comes in a glass jar and is formulated with natural and/or organic ingredients like Diatomaceous Earth, sodium bicarbonate, herb oils, and more. Lawson recommends Crest Pro Health. Even worse yet, when triclosan combines with the chlorine present in tap water, it can form chloroform also a probable human carcinogen. If Colgate is going to make plastic tubes, sure, they should be recyclable; but the truth is, there are better, more sustainable, lower-waste options for packaging: metal toothpaste tubes, glass powder jars, and compostable/biodegradable packaging. Never ever try to eat it. Be sure to check out the ingredients on the packaging before you buy to. Bad Habit (15) Badger (117) BaeBlu (112) Bahama Bo's (1) Bain De Terre (1) Baja Baby (10) Balance (1) No, you can use 3% or 6% H2O2 instead. Ensure this experiment is conducted on a washable, stain-resistant surface, and do not stand anywhere near the bottle or cylinder when it foams. Make your own elephant toothpaste?! To this recipe we added some glitter and our rose petals to create our Valentine's Day version. Toothpaste tablets are also an alternative to conventional toothpastes that use plastic packaging. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Empty plastic bottle or clear container Check it out again! Most toothpaste tubes are plastic and are not easily recycled, as many municipalities do not have the prope2 equipment. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Elephant's toothpaste is a foamy substance caused by the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) using potassium iodide (KI) or yeast and warm water as a catalyst. Add it directly to the peroxide for a solid color, or let it gently drip down the sides of the container to create stripes! Elephant toothpaste reactions can result in both thermal and chemical burns. [1] How rapidly the reaction proceeds will depend on the concentration of hydrogen peroxide.[2][3][4]. Nevertheless, the lower concentration of peroxidecan till discolor fabrics. Now, not all ingredients in toothpaste are harmful to the environment like cellulose gum. If you would like your foam to get out from the container use the short one. ), According to Colgate, its toothpaste is 99.7 percent natural, and the brand wants to pivot to a more sustainable approach to toothpaste. 5 Pages. As the oxygen emanates from the reaction, it creates bubbles. Elephant Toothpaste is a fun and an extremely easy science experiment to do at home. Now, different brands of toothpaste have different ingredients. yeast. Please leave your comments below. Heres everything you need to know about choosing the best toothpaste for the environment. After all, please leave your comments below. Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. Kid safety goggles can be found at your local hardware store. Elephant Toothpaste. Lecithin comes to mind, but the molecular gastronomy geeks probably have a few more. Brilliant Blue FCF is a colourant, in this case colouring your toothpaste blue. Elephant's toothpaste is a foamy substance that's created when you combine water, hydrogen peroxide, yeast, and dish soap. 2 tbs. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the Caribbean and provided research support as a graduate fellow for the Sustainable Fisheries Group. Elephants are the largest land mammals on earth and have distinctly massive bodies, large ears, and long trunks. If using a funneled top, you should definitely do the experiment outside, because the stream can reach several feet in the air. The expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. And if you want to be extra zero-waste, you can buy bamboo toothbrushes for a few dollars; Here's Why Brushing Your Teeth is Bad for the Oceans: Impact of Floride on Environment and Human Health: chemistryandsociety-toothpaste.weebly.com. Triclosan is one of the worst offenders, though it has mostly been phased out of popular toothpaste products; it converts to a dioxin in the sunlight. Allow them to measure out the yeast and mix in the correct amount of water, heated to 105-110 F (41-43 C). The original elephant toothpaste reaction used a higher level of hydrogen peroxide and could result in both thermal and chemical burns. To make ScienceBob's at-home version, you'll need: Optionally, you can also put a plastic tarp down to catch all the foam. It takes less than 30 minutes to conduct the . Thick foam oozes out the top of the bottle, like toothpaste squeezed out of its tube. By using our site, you agree to our. Pour cup of peroxide into your 'toothpaste' container. So all you need to do is find ingredients that are antibacterial and non-threatening to your teeth (looking at you, sugar!). After the reaction concludes, you're left with a lot of soapy foam. Before the pair pulled off their successful attempt, YouTubers Mark Rober and ScienceBob did a version with yeast in Rober's backyard swimming pool that overflowed. In this experiment we add dish soap, to help create bubbles, and a catalyst which is a special . Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) decomposes naturally into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2). "It has a different type of fluoride than other brands called stannous fluoride to help protect against cavities and gingivitis," he says. As it decomposes, or breaks down, the two molecules of H202 separate into two liquid H2O (water) molecules and a single oxygen molecule. Pour the yeast mixture into the bottle (preferably using a funnel), remove the funnel and move back. For now, TerraCycle runs a recycling program for Colgate toothpaste tubes, boxes, toothbrushes, and floss packaging. 343 Views Download Presentation. However, since the uprising of protests in the name of climate change, people's views of toothpaste have changed as well. Fortunately, the foam is just water, soap, and oxygen, and will release oxygen on its own until you're left with soapy, colored water. Others, like copolymers and titanium dioxides, seem very threatening and don't ring any bells with us. You can use 3% hydrogen peroxide for the experiment, though it may not produce as much foam as a 6% concentration. Swish the bottle to stir the ingredients. January 13, 2021, What Exactly Are Beeswax Food Wraps? Science YouTubers are engaging in a bit of a "foam arms race" this week with gargantuan versions of the elephant toothpaste experiment. CEO and president of Colgate-Palmolive told The Guardian, Colgate wants to make tubes a part of the circular economy by keeping this plastic productive and eliminating waste. EWG Home EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning EWG's Food Scores Healthy Living App. Can use food coloring to give color. The problem in elephant toothpaste is that the reaction is too exothermic and can get out of control, leading to a dangerous situation. This COOL chemical reaction spews froth and foam everywhere. However, the 6% solution can irritate skin and eyes, so if you're using it, you should wear gloves and safety goggles. Not only are plastic toothpaste tubes bad for the environment, there's a high chance you might not be getting your money's worth, with up to 10% of the toothpaste remaining when you think the tube . Plastic-free is !!! With thousands of articles covering everything from do-it-yourself repairs to tips on parenting, Arew has something for everyone. With Delta Dental estimating that the average American uses 20 gallons of toothpaste throughout their lifetime, using an environmentally friendly toothpaste is crucial. This printable is part of HP's School of Fun Series. (It's not really toothpaste . When you mix hydrogen peroxide with soap and yeast, the catalase enzyme found in yeast helps to convert the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas. When conducting the elephant toothpaste experiment, it is important to be aware of the potential hazards involved. Happy brushing! It may not be what your dentist tells you, but whats clean for your teeth isnt always what is clean for the environment. The elephants toothpaste trick can be a nice experiment but please take precautions so your children have fun and good memories. If you have enough materials on hand, you can try different variations of the experiment like Rober did in his video or see how much foam you can produce by increasing the quantity of materials. A build-up of algae causes an increase of CO2 being released into the water, creating a dead spot. Steps for making elephant toothpaste: Place the water bottle in a tray to catch the overflow once the experiment is done. . 50-100 ml of 30% hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) solution (Note: This hydrogen peroxide solution is much more concentrated than the kind you . Hydrogen Peroxide can be dangerous when encountering eyes or when ingested, so goggles are needed and hydrogen peroxide should not be swallowed. cars is called exhaust and i t i s real l y bad f or t he environment . ScienceBob put some cheap, easy-to-follow instructions on his website, and the experiment is kid-friendly as long as you follow some basic safety precautions. Overall, elephant toothpaste is safe to use as long as you follow the safety precautions. Check the yeast packaging to see how hot the water needs to be. In the video, he experiments with different container shapes and sizes to determine which will result in the most spectacular reaction. Be sure that the hydrogen peroxide is not spilled. Why is toothpaste targeted, and how bad is it really for the environment? 30% hydrogen peroxide is added to a glass cylinder containing a concentrated aqueous mixture of potassium iodide and dishwashing soap. A unique feature that Gerais included in this . wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. They use their trunks to pick up objects, trumpet warnings, greet other elephants, or suck up water for drinking or bathing, among other uses. If youre new to tooth tabs, they look like mints; you chew them a bit, add water to the toothbrush, then start brushing. Mix the hydrogen peroxide and a few squirts of dish soap in the plastic water bottle. Some of these ingredients seem logical, like cellulose gum to make it a gummy substance. Once the reaction is complete, the foam can be safely touched. The elephant toothpaste experiment is safe to touch after 3 minutes. The remaining liquid is also drain-safe. In late May 2007, a retailer in New South Wales Australia noticed a box of toothpaste on his shelves also containing that chemical. Empty the yeast packet into 4 ounces of warm water. very warm water. Black-Owned Eco-Friendly Beauty and Skincare Brands, How to Naturally Whiten Your Teeth at Home - Green Matters, Latest What Is Sustainable Living? Colgate added that it expects 100 percent of its packaging to be recyclable by 2025 across all of its various product lines. If your answer is yes, then you will be delighted with the comprehensive explanation. I am doing elephant toothpaste and want to know, "I'm also doing a project for school and I chose to do the elephent toothpaste and this website is very helpful. These kinds of toothpaste are made of an actual paste, but their packaging is often recycled or made out of biodegradable material. Overall, the elephant toothpaste experiment is safe to conduct as long as proper safety precautions are taken. 2) Put a funnel in the top of bottle and carefully pour in the hydrogen peroxide (this needs to be done by an adult). How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? Pour 30 mL H 2 O 2 into the graduated cylinder. Elephant's Toothpaste This classic chemistry demonstration is a huge hit with kids of all ages. Gently mix these ingredients by swirling the bottle. The title becomes obvious as the reaction converts 125ml of 6% hydrogen peroxide to several "I'm a summer camp counselor and I was trying to find an activity for my kids and this article helped explain a fun. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Make-Elephant-Toothpaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Elephant-Toothpaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Make-Elephant-Toothpaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid697964-v4-728px-Make-Elephant-Toothpaste-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"