Devil's toothpaste
Devil's toothpaste is a large‑scale, high‑intensity version of the well‑known Elephant's toothpaste chemistry demonstration. It produces an enormous eruption of oxygen‑filled foam through the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), typically using a catalyst such as potassium iodide (KI) or potassium permanganate.[1] The reaction is visually dramatic and became widely known after being showcased by YouTuber Mark Rober, who performed what he called the World’s Largest Devil’s Toothpaste Explosion.[2]
Because of the extreme reactivity of high‑concentration peroxide, Devil's Toothpaste is not a children's experiment and requires strict safety precautions, protective equipment, and controlled outdoor conditions.
Explanation
Devil's Toothpaste is the rapid thermal decomposition of hydrogen peroxide:
H₂O₂→2H₂O+O₂
This reaction releases oxygen gas. When one adds dish soap, the oxygen gets trapped as foam.
The intensity of the Devil's Toothpaste reaction arises from the rapid catalytic decomposition of high‑concentration hydrogen peroxide, which produces a large volume of oxygen gas in a very short period of time. When a catalyst such as potassium iodide or potassium permanganate is introduced, the reaction rate increases dramatically, causing the peroxide to decompose almost instantaneously.
The process is strongly exothermic, releasing significant heat that further accelerates gas evolution. The oxygen becomes trapped in the surrounding surfactant solution, generating an expansive foam that is expelled forcefully due to the combined effects of rapid gas production, heat release, and the low viscosity of the reaction mixture. These factors collectively result in a highly vigorous and visually dramatic eruption.
See also
References
- ↑ "How to Make Devil's Toothpaste and the Science Behind It". Biology Insights. 2025-08-29. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
- ↑ "How to Make Devil's Toothpaste: The Explosive Science". ScienceInsights. 2025-11-10. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
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