How YOU Can Perform the Science Experiment that Helped Win Miss Virginia Her 2019 Crown

Recap: Here is how to perform the science experiment that helped Camille Schrier win Miss Virginia 2019.

So if you haven’t heard this story yet – Camille Schrier performed a science experiment as her talent for a pageant competition AND ultimately WON Miss Virginia 2019! I think it was a smart move considering it is a scholarship contest after all (and obviously others agree). Even better, I love how she used this platform to promote her image as a woman in science and STEM. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 2018 with degrees in biochemistry and systems biology. She is currently a graduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University pursuing a doctor of pharmacy degree.

Now, some information about THE experiment. The experiment she performed is a common science demonstration often called “Elephant’s Toothpaste”. It gets this name because it looks a lot like toothpaste coming out of a tube, just in giant size for a large animal like an elephant.

The “elephant toothpaste” is created by the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). This decomposition creates a foamy substance so quickly that is shoots out of a container. The catalyst used is often potassium iodide or yeast.

This reaction releases energy in the form of heat, so it’s an exothermic reaction. It’s always useful to remember the word parts in exothermic: “exo-” meaning “outside” and “therm” meaning “heat” (think thermal). In exothermic reactions, reactants → products + energy. In this case, the energy released is as heat, but exothermic reactions can also release energy in the form of light (this happens in fireflies and some other glow in the dark creatures).

There are two versions of this experiment: (1) the more dangerous version (for adults to perform with proper safety) and uses a solution with a higher concentration of H₂O₂ and potassium iodide, and (2) the less dangerous version (for kids to perform with proper safety and adult supervision) with a solution with a lower concentration of H₂O₂ and yeast)

If you are a science teacher, I strongly suggest trying whichever version you feel most comfortable with in your classroom. I would also definitely share the backstory of Camille using this experiment.

The hydrogen peroxide you can easily find in most stores that this is 3%, meaning the bottle is a mixture of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 97% water. Some more kid-friendly versions of this experiment use the 3% hydrogen peroxide, but others use 6% hydrogen peroxide or even 12% hydrogen peroxide. These more concentrated hydrogen peroxide mixtures can be found at beauty supply stores.

Sometimes hydrogen peroxide at beauty stores is referred to by volume of oxygen released rather than the percentage hydrogen peroxide contained in the mixture. For each percent of peroxide in a reaction, about 3.3 times that volume of oxygen is released. So, in the chemical decomposition of 3% hydrogen peroxide will release about 9.9 times the volume of oxygen. This number is rounded to 10. From this, you get 10 volume or V10 hydrogen peroxide as the same as 3% hydrogen peroxide.

% Hydrogen Peroxide	Volume
3%  (x 3.3) =	10 Volume or V10
6%  (x 3.3) =	20 Volume or V20
9%  (x 3.3) =	30 Volume or V30
12%  (x 3.3) =	40 Volume or V40

One of my favorite kid versions of the Elephant toothpaste experiment is through ScienceBob and you can find all the details here. It uses 6% H₂O₂ and yeast (and a couple other supplies).

One of my favorite adult/teacher versions of the Elephant toothpaste experiment is through Carolina Biological Supply Company and you can find all the details here. It uses 30% H₂O₂ and potassium iodide (and a couple other supplies).

Have you done this experiment before? If so, any tips or tricks? Or, if you tried it for the first time, share about how it went!