Elephant's Toothpaste

We create a rapidly expanding column of foam by mixing chemicals. Hydrogen peroxide and detergent are added to potassium iodide and food colouring to set off a reaction that creates vibrant expanding foam. Chemistry - Reactions - Learning Points. A change in temperature, concentration, pressure (gases only), particle size or the addition of a catalyst can all alter the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being changed itself. Catalysts act by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down naturally to give oxygen and water. Catalytic converters are used to change harmful carbon monoxide and nitrogen gases into less harmful carbon dioxide and nitrogen gases. A Twig Experiment Film. Let students experience real experiments in lab conditions anywhere, from setup, method all the way through to analysis and real-world application.