Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) seems like a fairly innocuous liquid. It's similar in structure to water (H2O) but with an extra oxygen molecule. And although that molecule may seem like a small difference, it's an important one. The additional oxygen makes it a slightly acidic solution and an oxidizing agent.
Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used for teeth whitening cleaners. This liquid, however, is unstable and when combined with the right circumstances can cause some unbelievable reactions (including spontaneous combustion). Keep reading to check out a few cool ways peroxide reacts.
Advertisement
Create a genie in a bottle
Oxygen is an invisible molecule that makes up much of the air people breathe. The instability of hydrogen peroxide means that the compound can come apart very quickly. You purchase it in brown bottles because light actually breaks down the molecules. Manganese dioxide quickly breaks down the H2O2 molecule, and the resulting water droplets exit the container in the form of steam or smoke. Watch this in action in the video below.
Oxygen is an invisible molecule that makes up much of the air people breathe. The instability of hydrogen peroxide means that the compound can come apart very quickly. You purchase it in brown bottles because light actually breaks down the molecules. Manganese dioxide quickly breaks down the H2O2 molecule, and the resulting water droplets exit the container in the form of steam or smoke. Watch this in action in the video below.
Elephant toothpaste
Kids and adults alike will enjoy watching this reaction. When peroxide is combined with activated yeast, the yeast helps remove oxygen from the peroxide. The exothermic reaction creates foam and heat. (The soap helps produce more bubbles, which create the foam).
Kids and adults alike will enjoy watching this reaction. When peroxide is combined with activated yeast, the yeast helps remove oxygen from the peroxide. The exothermic reaction creates foam and heat. (The soap helps produce more bubbles, which create the foam).
Start a fire without a match or lighter
Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing agent, and glycerin is highly susceptible to oxidation. The instability of the peroxide combined with the glycerin creates an exothermic reaction (in which a lot of heat is created). The heat plus the oxygen results in a fire.
Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing agent, and glycerin is highly susceptible to oxidation. The instability of the peroxide combined with the glycerin creates an exothermic reaction (in which a lot of heat is created). The heat plus the oxygen results in a fire.
Reveal fingerprints with hydrogen peroxide
Want to feel like a CSI technician? This cool experiment shows you how scientists can use an acidified peroxide to reveal latent prints from uncoated brass. This method is particularly useful on brass cartridge cases. The chemical solution reacts with the oils from the skin on the brass, revealing any hidden prints.
Want to feel like a CSI technician? This cool experiment shows you how scientists can use an acidified peroxide to reveal latent prints from uncoated brass. This method is particularly useful on brass cartridge cases. The chemical solution reacts with the oils from the skin on the brass, revealing any hidden prints.
Potato and peroxide surface area reaction
The purpose of this experiment is to show how a result can vary based on the surface area of a given object. When a potato is cut into multiple pieces, it has more surface area, so the peroxide and potato combination will result in a more significant production of oxygen.
The purpose of this experiment is to show how a result can vary based on the surface area of a given object. When a potato is cut into multiple pieces, it has more surface area, so the peroxide and potato combination will result in a more significant production of oxygen.
Hydrogen peroxide and raw food reaction
The simple answer to why this experiment works is that raw fruits and vegetables contain something called catalase. The enzyme helps speed up the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide, creating a fizzing, bubbly mush. This experiment does not work with cooked fruits and veggies because heat inactivates the catalase.
The simple answer to why this experiment works is that raw fruits and vegetables contain something called catalase. The enzyme helps speed up the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide, creating a fizzing, bubbly mush. This experiment does not work with cooked fruits and veggies because heat inactivates the catalase.
Advertisement