- View more resources from this publisher
CREST Awards
Tooltip
These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.
Silver award: testing toothpastes
In this project, students make their own toothpaste and compare it to toothpastes available in the shop. They then do some tests to find out which toothpaste cleans the best by testing on egg shell. Students are asked to consider the following questions:
- Which toothpastes were most abrasive, in other words, which were ‘scratchiest’? You can test this simply by rubbing a small amount between your fingers. What are the advantages and disadvantages of abrasives in toothpaste? How could the abrasiveness be measured more accurately?
- Measure the pH of the different toothpastes. What method will you use? How could pH affect the cleaning ability of toothpaste?
• Would your homemade toothpaste help prevent cavities?
• What would you add to your homemade toothpaste to make ‘whitening’ toothpaste?
• How might your results differ if you were able to use actual teeth instead of eggs?
Show health and safety information
Please be aware that resources have been published on the website in the form that they were originally supplied. This means that procedures reflect general practice and standards applicable at the time resources were produced and cannot be assumed to be acceptable today. Website users are fully responsible for ensuring that any activity, including practical work, which they carry out is in accordance with current regulations related to health and safety and that an appropriate risk assessment has been carried out.
Downloads
-
Testing toothpastes 413.82 KB
Show downloads
-
Testing toothpastes 413.82 KB
Information on the permitted use of this resource is covered by the Category Three Content section in STEM Learning’s Terms and conditions.
