Hrithvik's Journal - A Memorable Visit

I still remember the buzz of excitement as we set up for the elephant toothpaste experiment. The classroom was packed, students squeezed onto wooden benches, some standing at the back, all craning their necks to see. The beaker sat in the center, hydrogen peroxide ready, the catalyst measured out perfectly. We had done this experiment countless times in practice, but this was different. The energy in the room, the anticipation it was electric.

I held up the bottle of hydrogen peroxide. “What do you think happens when we break this down?” A few students mumbled something about bubbles, one kid in the front row leaned forward, eyes locked on the beaker. We added dish soap, a bit of food coloring for effect, and then came the moment the catalyst.

The second the potassium iodide hit the liquid, a thick column of foam shot up. Gasps, laughter, a few students actually jumped back. The reaction was immediate, towering foam spilling over the sides, steam rising as heat from the reaction met the cool air. One boy shouted, “It’s alive!” and the room erupted in laughter. The colors swirled through the foam, pink and blue mixing into deep purple streaks, spilling onto the table and dripping onto the floor. It smelled sharp, a little like the antiseptic used in hospitals. Some kids covered their noses; others leaned in closer, fascinated.

A girl raised her hand, hesitating before asking, “Why is it so hot?” Perfect. That was exactly what I wanted them to notice. “Exothermic reaction,” I said. “The breakdown releases energy, and you can actually feel it.” I gestured to the beaker, still foaming. A few students reached out, hovering their hands over the reaction, eyes widening when they felt the heat.

Then came the questions. “Can we make it bigger?” “What if we use more catalyst?” “What if we mix in something else?” That was my favorite part the curiosity, the way their minds immediately jumped to new possibilities.