You can use 3% hydrogen peroxide for the experiment, though it may not produce as much foam as a 6% concentration.
Depending on your child’s age, you can have them use a fun spoon and stirring tool. You can also have the put on goggles and a lab coat. Kid safety goggles can be found at your local hardware store. Check the yeast packaging to see how hot the water needs to be.
If your child is too young, have them squeeze the dish soap and food coloring into the bottle. You can also add glitter to make it more fun. Make sure the glitter is plastic and not metal-based because peroxide should not be used with metal. [4] X Research source Stir the mixture yourself or have your child do it if old enough. Be sure that the hydrogen peroxide is not spilled.
The fungi in the yeast immediately cause the hydrogen peroxide to decompose and strip off an extra oxygen molecule. The yeast acts as a catalyst as it causes the hydrogen peroxide molecule to release an oxygen molecule. The stripped off oxygen molecule takes the form of a gas and once it hits the soap it creates fluffy foam bubbles, while the rest stays as water. The gas looks for an escape route and the foam “toothpaste” gushes out of the bottle. [6] X Research source Make sure the yeast and hydrogen peroxide are mixed well for optimum effect.
With a regular soda bottle and 3% hydrogen peroxide, you will probably get a cascading effect like a chocolate fountain.
