1. Choose your own adventure!
Chemistry Adventure

2. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a molecule that contains 2 Hydrogen atoms and 2 Oxygen atoms (H2O2). It exists in the structure below. H O

3. Hydrogen Peroxide
However, the bond between the Oxygens is highly unstable! O H O H

4. Hydrogen Peroxide
As a result, the molecule wants to break down into smaller pieces. H O H O

5. Hydrogen Peroxide
From here, the molecules will form more stable molecules, like Water (H2O) and Oxygen gas (O2) O H O H O H O

6. Hydrogen Peroxide
The breakdown of H2O2 is a slow reaction, but we can speed it up and make it more visible with the addition of yeast and dish soap!
The yeast produces a compound called catalase. Catalase is used to break down H2O2 so it doesn’t damage the DNA of the yeast cells.
Catalase breaking down the H2O2 causes a sudden release of H2O and O2.
In a normal reaction, O2 would just be released into the air, but with the addition of dish soap, the O2 can be trapped into bubbles for us to see.

8. How does each ingredient affect the reaction?
Now, lets alter each of the ingredients one at a time so we can understand how they affect the reaction!
Pick each ingredient below to select what you would like to alter first!
H2O2
Soap
Yeast
(in 4ml of water)
Done

9. Altering Concentration of H2O2
In the original experiment, 12% H2O2 was used.
If we change the concentration of H2O2, what concentration do you think will make for the best reaction? 1%
12%
30%

10. Go back to alter other ingredients
1% H2O2
Go back to alter other ingredients

11. Go back to alter other ingredients
12% H2O2
Go back to alter other ingredients

12. Go back to alter other ingredients
30% H2O2
Go back to alter other ingredients

13. Altering the Amount of Soap
In the original experiment, 1ml of Soap was used.
If we change the amount of Soap, what amount do you think will make for the best reaction?
A Few Drops
1ml
20ml

14. Go back to alter other ingredients
A Few Drops of Soap
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15. Go back to alter other ingredients
1ml of Soap
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16. Go back to alter other ingredients
20ml of Soap
Go back to alter other ingredients

17. Altering the Amount of Yeast (in 4ml of water)
In the original experiment, 1g of Yeast (in 4ml of water) was used.
If we change the amount of Yeast (in 4ml of water), what amount do you think will make for the best reaction?
0.25g 1g 2g

18. 0.25g of Yeast (in 4ml of Water)
Go back to alter other ingredients

19. 1g of Yeast (in 4ml of Water)
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20. 2g of Yeast (in 4ml of Water)
Go back to alter other ingredients

21. Thank you for participating in this interactive activity!