Elephant toothpaste: new world record of bizarre chemical experiment

In a new video you can see how Netflix presenter Nick Uhas makes 200 cubic meters of elephant toothpaste. A world record!

Elephant toothpaste is one of the best known chemical experiments and can also be created at home. Put hydrogen peroxide in a conical flask and add a small amount of detergent. You then add a catalyst such as potassium iodide or yeast. A series of reactions take place between the hydrogen dioxide and the catalyst. The catalyst, for example, breaks down hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. The soap mixes with the oxygen and the water, thus creating a giant mousse.

This can take extreme forms. In a new video Nick Uhas (known from the Netflix series Blown Away) shares the details of a new experiment. He and his team made 200 cubic meters of elephant toothpaste. In the video, he explains that he used 625 liters of H202 (35% hydrogen peroxide) for this. That is 245 liters more than the last world record attempt by Science Bob. Potassium iodide was used as the catalyst. “The reaction of potassium iodide is more intense than yeast,” says Nick.
 

Of course a nice video was made of this experiment. Skip to 9 minutes to see the actual experiment. In a short time the entire environment is covered under a thick layer of foam.

The question is how long this world record will remain in the hands of Nick Uhas. Science Bob will no doubt make a new attempt in 2020.