8.1 Chemical Reactions - We performed an experiment to make elephant toothpaste. We used hydrogen peroxide which is made from hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms (its chemical formula is H2O2). When hydrogen peroxide breaks down, it turns into oxygen (O2) and water (H2O). Normally this breakdown happens very slowly but you can make that reaction happen faster by adding a catalyst. The oxygen gas forms bubbles. These bubbles would usually escape from the liquid and pop quickly but adding a little dish soap provides additional surface tension, allowing the bubbles to get trapped and creating lots of foam. This foam looks like a giant squeeze of toothpaste—almost big enough for an elephant!