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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Hey All;
A few weeks back I posted that we had done some large scale elephant toothpaste demos for an outside event. Many of you were interested in how we did that......

Here's What You Need:

*	5L Erlenmeyer Flask...HUGE and very cool looking!
*	500 mL Bacquacil Oxidizer (27% Hydrogen Peroxide) or 30% Hydrogen Peroxide
*	1 tablespoon Dawn dishsoap
*	2 Tablespoons Sodium Iodide

Here's What You Do:

In the 5 liter flask, combine the 500 mL H2O2 with 1 tablespoon dish soap. Swirl gently to mix. Add 2 tablespoons of Sodium Iodide (all at once) and step back as the reaction occurs quickly, typically sending a column of foam 6 feet into the air.  

Precautions...the bacquacil (or 30% H2O2) is a strong oxidizer...use proper safety equipment (goggles and gloves) and consult the proper MSDS. Sodium Iodide is slightly toxic and a potential tissue irritant...again, consult the proper MSDS. You may want to do this outdoors in an area that can be hosed down...the iodine that is released from the sodium iodide during the reaction can stain some surfaces and fabrics. It stained our whitish tarp a blackish color. 

We did this on a stage on our plaza so we were pretty well away from our audience. It was awesome though!

Happy brushing!

Kathy

 

Kathy Fournier
Associate Vice President of Education
McWane Science Center
200 19th Street North
Birmingham, AL 35209
205-714-8254
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-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jeff Rosenblatt
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 7:38 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Large Scale Corn Starch Demo -- Disposal

ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

One of our local weather personalities is planning a large scale corn starch non-newtonian fluid demo for their annual school show at our baseball team stadium.  It will be the well-seen walk across the pool of corn starch and water demo in a large bathtub sized container.

If anybody out there has done these large scale demos, what is the responsible way to dispose of the corn starch mixture.  We will probably have 200-400 gallons of it.  I thought diluting it with lots of additional water down a storm drain might be an option.  Any other thoughts or advice are greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

--Jeff Rosenblatt--
Director, Science City

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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
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