Hydrogen Peroxide: How to make Hydrogen peroxide? | Uses | Properties

Hydrogen Peroxide:

Thenard first created Hydrogen Peroxide H 2O 2 in 1818 by the action of dilute Hydrochloric on Barium peroxide.

Hydrogen Peroxide(H2O2)is found in a very small amount of rainwater and the atmosphere.

Structure of Hydrogen Peroxide:

Thenard found that if 17 parts of H 2O 2 are decomposed, by weight, 8 parts of oxygen and 9 parts of water are obtained. Based on this, its proportional formula is HO. Its vapor density is 17 so its weight is 34. Thus its formula is H 2O 2.

According to Kingjet, it is an oxidized product of water and its composition is the formula I.

According to Boyer, it is reduced production of oxygen and its structure is formula II.

Equilibrium Mixture view:

H 2O 2 is a tautomeric mixture of the following two formulas based on evidence in favor of the sources of Kingjet and boyer. At normal temperature, H 2O 2 remains in this mixture, mainly in the form of formula II.

With the help of an x-ray, it has been found that its four atoms do not exist in one place. And its structure is like an open book.

According to Abrahams, the angle between H — O bond and O — O bond is 101.9° and the length of O — O bond and O — H bond is 1.49A° and 0.97A° respectively. There is an angle of 90.2° between the hydrogen atoms.

Preparation Method:

The following are the methods of making H2O2.

Sodium peroxide:

In the laboratory, it is made by the action of dilute H2SO4 on sodium peroxide.

In a flask, sodium peroxide is slowly added to the solution of dilute is formed by the reaction. Who lives in the solution. Crystals of sodium sulfate are obtained upon cooling the obtained mixture. Sodium sulfate is also called Glauber Salt.

The Glauber filters the salt and separates it. A 20% solution of H 2O 2 is obtained in the filtrate. 20% solutions of H 2O 2 are also called Perhydrol.

Sodium peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide is obtained from the action of cold water such as ice on sodium peroxide.

Na2O2 + H2O → 2NaOH + H2O2

Barium peroxide

Barium peroxide paste contains ice-cooled dilute sulfuric or phosphoric acid. The received precipitate is filtered and separated.

BaO2 + H2SO4 → BaSO4 + H2O

In this method, a hard surface is formed in the flask due to the formation of insoluble Barium sulfate or Barium phosphate. In which this reaction is carried out. This causes the reaction to slow down. This is a drawback to this method.

Merck’s Method

Barium peroxide is carried in cold water and carbon dioxide gas flows into the solution. By releasing carbon dioxide, barium carbonate precipitate is obtained which is separated. H 2O 2 remains in the solution.

BaO2 + H2O + CO2 → BaCO3 + H2O2

Hydrated barium peroxide

H 2O 2 is obtained when hydrated barium peroxide reacts with dilute sulfuric acid. Hydrated barium peroxide (BaO 2.8H 2 O) reacts readily with sulfuric acid and the reaction does not slow down due to the formation of insoluble barium sulfate in this method.

Auto-Oxidation Method

This is the modern method of making Hydrogen peroxide in large quantities. In this, 2-Ethyl-anthraquinone is dissolved in an organic solvent and it is reduced to hydrogen in the presence of Pd. The 2-Ethyl-anthraquinone derived from this action changes again to 2-Ethyl-anthraquinone. And H 2O 2 is obtained.

The industrial manufacture of H 2O 2 can be achieved by steam distillation at a low pressure of Perdisulphuric Acid. About 30% solution of H 2O 2 is obtained by this method.

Electrolytic Process

In this method, ammonium sulfate and dilute sulfuric acid solution are electrolytic. In electrolytic, hydrogen is obtained at the cathode and Ammonium persulfate ((NH 4) 2S 2O 8) at the anode.

NH4HSO4 → NH4SO4-+ H+ H++ e → H Cathode 2H → H2 2NH4SO4–2e → (NH4)2S2O8 Anode

H 2O 2 is obtained by distillation of Ammonium persulfate with dilute sulfuric acid at low pressure.

(NH4)2S2O8 + H2SO4 → H2S2O8 + (NH4)2SO4

Physical Properties:

Pure H 2O 2 is a colorless odorless thick and transparent fluid. In large amounts, its color appears to be light blue.

Its boiling point is 151 0C and the freezing point is -0.89 0C. It rapidly decomposes at its boiling point. Hence its distillation is done at low pressure. Its boiling point is 68 0C at 26mm pressure.

Its relative density is 1.4694 at 0 0C and its relative density at 25 0C is 1.64.

It is soluble in water, ether and alcohol.

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Uses of Hydrogen Peroxide

• It is used in bleaching hair, wool, etc. as bleaching.
• Being antiseptic, it is used to clean wounds, ears, teeth etc.
• It is used as propellant in rocket.
• As an oxidizer
• H2O2 is used to make hair color golden.
• It is used to prevent many substances like milk wine etc. from rotting.
• Used in retrieving the colors of old paintings of oil-dyed dyes.

Originally published at https://www.chemistrypage.in on April 23, 2020.