Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
2020
Department
Chemistry
Abstract
The popular elephant’s toothpaste demonstration can be used to demonstrate the effect of temperature on reaction rate qualitatively. Our version is designed for simplicity of execution and to require little class time. Two runs of the reaction are performed at easily achieved temperatures (ice and ambient), the latter being approximately three times as fast. The reaction behind the demonstration, the iodide-catalyzed decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (along with some complicating side-reactions), is discussed in some detail.
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Ruekberg, B. & Freeman, D. L. (2020). Elephant’s Toothpaste Used as a Qualitative Demonstration of Rate versus Temperature. J. Chem. Educ., 97(4), 1061-1067. doi: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00782
Available at: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00782
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