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Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound with the formula H 2 O 2.In its pure form, it is a very pale blue [5] liquid that is slightly more viscous than water.It is used as an oxidizer, bleaching agent, and antiseptic, usually as a dilute solution (3%–6% by weight) in water for consumer use and in higher concentrations for industrial use.
Then, a catalyst, often around 10 ml potassium iodide solution or catalase from baker's yeast, is added to make the hydrogen peroxide decompose very quickly. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water. As a small amount of hydrogen peroxide generates a large volume of oxygen, the oxygen quickly pushes out of the container. [6]
Hydrogen peroxide works best as a propellant in extremely high concentrations (roughly over 70%). Although any concentration of peroxide will generate some hot gas (oxygen plus some steam), at concentrations above approximately 67%, the heat of decomposing hydrogen peroxide becomes large enough to completely vaporize all the liquid at standard pressure.
Hydrogen peroxide is a harmful byproduct of many normal metabolic processes; to prevent damage to cells and tissues, it must be quickly converted into other, less dangerous substances. To this end, catalase is frequently used by cells to rapidly catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into less-reactive gaseous oxygen and water ...
A closely related mixture, sometimes called "base piranha", is a 5:1:1 mixture of water, ammonia solution (NH 4 OH, or NH 3 (aq)), and 30% hydrogen peroxide. [2] [3] As hydrogen peroxide is less stable at high pH than under acidic conditions, NH 4 OH (pH c. 11.6) also accelerates its decomposition.
A concentrated hydrogen peroxide solution can be easily decomposed to water and oxygen. An example of a spontaneous (without addition of an external energy source) decomposition is that of hydrogen peroxide which slowly decomposes into water and oxygen (see video at right): 2 H 2 O 2 → 2 H 2 O + O 2
Especially when in concentrated form, organic peroxides can decompose by self-oxidation, since organic peroxides contain both an oxidizer (the O-O bond) and fuel (C-H and C-C bonds). A "self-accelerating decomposition" occurs when the rate of peroxide decomposition generates heat at a faster rate than it can be dissipated to the environment ...
Vaporized hydrogen peroxide (trademarked VHP, [1] also known as hydrogen peroxide vapor, HPV) is a vapor form of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) with applications as a low-temperature antimicrobial vapor used to decontaminate enclosed and sealed areas such as laboratory workstations, isolation and pass-through rooms, [2] and even aircraft interiors ...