Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen
peroxide is a clear liquid that is slightly more viscous than water.
Due to hydrogen peroxide's strong oxidizing properties, it is a powerful
bleaching agent. Hydrogen peroxide is most commonly used for bleaching
materials such as cotton, feathers, straw, and synthetic fibers.
Most people use hydrogen peroxide as an antiseptic for cleaning out wounds.
Also, in high concentrations it is known as high test peroxide, which is
used as a monorepellant in rockets. Hydrogen peroxide has a skewed
structure due to the repulsion between the lone pairs on the oxygen atoms.
The most common structure of hydrogen peroxide is seen below.
Green
= Oxygen
Blue = Hydrogen
Hydrogen peroxide is one of the chemicals used to make light sticks.
When the light stick is cracked, the ampule breaks, releasing the hydrogen
peroxide into a solution containing oxalic phthalate ester. After
a chain of reactions occur, the light stick glows for hours of fun.
Sources:
Page prepared by:
Terra Nichols
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_peroxide
http://www.h2o2.com
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~mtc/Lightstick.html
http://www.chem.yorku.ca/hall_of_fame/essays99/H2O2.htm
Return to index page