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Subsequently the barium peroxide was dissolved in water and hydrogen peroxide was produced. It was first produced in the United Kingdom by burning barium salt (Ba), which produced barium peroxide (BaO 2). Since 1880, hydrogen peroxide is a commercial product. The alkalinity and presence of pollutions also accelerate the destruction of hydrogen peroxide.įor the production of hydrogen peroxide, special catalysers are used to make sure that hydrogen peroxide is not destroyed by pollutants in the water. The rate of destruction is multiplied with 2,2 for every 10 ☌ of rise in temperature. In concentrated solutions, the temperature of the solution is increased, accelerating hydrogen peroxide destruction. In diluted solutions, the heat is absorbed by water. Hydrogen peroxide itself is inflammable, but the oxygen can enhance the inflammation of other substances. Hydrogen peroxide can disintegrate during transport. The amount of iron and the pH are a greater influence on corrosiveness than the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is. The corrosiveness of process water due to hydrogen peroxide depends on the amount of dissolved oxygen that is produced.
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By changing the reaction conditions (temperature, pH, dose, reaction time and the addition of a catalyser), hydrogen peroxide will attack different pollutions. Hydrogen peroxide is used for different applications, because it is very selective. For water treatment, concentrations of 35 or 50 % hydrogen peroxide are used. The amount of hydrogen peroxide in the solution is expressed in weight percentage. At high concentrations these solutions give off an irritating, acidic smell. Hydrogen peroxide solutions look like water and can be dissolved in water unrestrainedly. These radicals quickly react with other substances, while new radicals are formed and a chain reaction takes place. The bond between the two oxygen atoms, the so-called peroxide bond, is broken while two H-O radicals are formed. The hydrogen peroxide molecule contains one extra oxygen atom, compared to the more stable water molecule. Hydrogen peroxide has the chemical formula H 2O 2 and the following structural formula: The peroxide ion consists of a single bond between two oxygen atoms: (O-O) 2. Peroxide is a chemical compound that contains the peroxide ion (O 2 2-). What are the characteristics of hydrogen peroxide? It can also be found in water in small quantities.
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Gaseous hydrogen peroxide is produced by photo chemical reactions in the atmosphere surrounding the earth. In the environment, hydrogen peroxide can be found in very low concentrations. Hydrogen peroxide contains a combination of two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms. Hydrogen peroxide consists of oxygen and hydrogen atoms. Louis Jacque Thenard discovered hydrogen peroxide in 1818. It can also be used for water disinfection. Most people know hydrogen peroxide as a compounds that bleaches hair.
Chemical formula for hydrogen peroxide full#
Image taken from Wikipedia, where a full list of authors is available.Īside from that, IUPAC also allows for nomenclature to entirely ignore the molecular structure and name entirely by molecular composition. Red spheres are oxygen, white ones hydrogen. Oxide is a term reserved for the oxide anion $\ce$ is labelled peroxide and it would not make sense calling it dioxide since it does not feature oxides.įigure 2: Structure of hydrogen peroxide.
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