What does hydrogen peroxide spontaneously decompose into?
1 Answer
Aug 7, 2014
Hydrogen peroxide spontaneously decomposes into water and oxygen.
Explanation:
The equation for the reaction is
The rate of decomposition is slow at room temperature, but it increases with temperature.
The rate increases rapidly in the presence of catalysts such as
Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidizing agent. At low concentrations (3 %), it is used as a disinfectant and a bleach.
The UV light from the sun catalyzes the reaction.
If you leave hydrogen peroxide in a clear container in sunlight, it decomposes much faster.
That's why it's sold to the public in brown bottles.
At concentrations of 70 to 98+ %, it is used as an oxidizer for rocket fuel.
