What speeds up a chemical reaction?
How does this align with my curriculum?
Learn about the role of yeast in this fun decomposition reaction.
What You Need
- 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
- Liquid Dish Soap
- 500ml clear bottle
- 1 package (~10ml) yeast
- warm water
- funnel
- food colouring (optional)
- tray
Safety First!
Be careful working with hydrogen peroxide. Young children should have adult assistance.
What To Do
- Place the bottle on top of a tray (this is to catch anything that comes out of the bottle).
- Combine ½ cup of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide with ¼ of liquid dish soap in a 500 mL bottle. Use a funnel to avoid spilling.
- If you choose, add a few drops of food colouring and gently swish the bottle to mix it.
- Dissolve 1 package (~10 mL) of yeast in ¼ cup of warm water. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Add the yeast mixture to the bottle. Watch what happens!
Related Activity Video: Elephant Toothpaste: Halloween Edition (video – 2:11 min.)
Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) naturally breaks down into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2). Below is the formula that chemists use to describe this reaction:
2H2O2 → 2H2O + O2
Yeast contains an enzyme called catalase which acts as a catalyst, meaning it speeds up the chemical reaction that breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. The water that is created from this reaction then mixes with the dish soap and makes foam. The oxygen gas that we created comes gushing out of the bottle, pushing the foam up and out of the bottle.
Catalase is a common enzyme found in nearly all living organisms, including humans! Have you ever put hydrogen peroxide on a cut to disinfect it? The catalase in our bodies breaks down the hydrogen peroxide when it comes in contact with our blood, causing it to fizz.
In our experiment we used specific measurements to create the reaction. If you use too much or too little of certain mixtures, you may not get the same result. This is a very important key to successful baking too!
For more information on this topic check out these Let's Talk Science resources:
- What is a exothermic reaction? (Hands-on Activities) - Things are heating up! Explore the temperature change that occurs in an exothermic reaction and the role of catalysts is this chemistry activity.
- The Cold Pack: A Chilly Example of an Endothermic Reaction (STEM in Context) - When you hurt your ankle, thermodynamics can help you heal! An endothermic reaction reduces the swelling by cooling your injury.
What’s happening?
Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) naturally breaks down into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2). Below is the formula that chemists use to describe this reaction:
2H2O2 → 2H2O + O2
Yeast contains an enzyme called catalase which acts as a catalyst, meaning it speeds up the chemical reaction that breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. The water that is created from this reaction then mixes with the dish soap and makes foam. The oxygen gas that we created comes gushing out of the bottle, pushing the foam up and out of the bottle.
Why does it matter?
Catalase is a common enzyme found in nearly all living organisms, including humans! Have you ever put hydrogen peroxide on a cut to disinfect it? The catalase in our bodies breaks down the hydrogen peroxide when it comes in contact with our blood, causing it to fizz.
In our experiment we used specific measurements to create the reaction. If you use too much or too little of certain mixtures, you may not get the same result. This is a very important key to successful baking too!
Investigate further
For more information on this topic check out these Let's Talk Science resources:
- What is a exothermic reaction? (Hands-on Activities) - Things are heating up! Explore the temperature change that occurs in an exothermic reaction and the role of catalysts is this chemistry activity.
- The Cold Pack: A Chilly Example of an Endothermic Reaction (STEM in Context) - When you hurt your ankle, thermodynamics can help you heal! An endothermic reaction reduces the swelling by cooling your injury.