DECOMPOSITIO

N OF HYDROGEN
PEROXIDE
LE THANH – CHEM 2
 GENERAL

• MOLECULAR FORMULA: H2O2

• DISPLAY FORMULA:
• MOLAR MASS: 34
• STATE: liquid (room temp)
• COLOR: colourless (room temp)
• VISCOSITY: higher than water
• ROLES:
 Oxidising agent
 Explosive – highly exothermic decomposition
THE UNIQUENESS OF H2O2
• Oxygen contains
oxidation state of -1
• Can be used as both
oxidizing and reducing
agent (depending on
pH)
• Decompose via reaction
of disproportionation
Abstract of H2O2 Decomposition
• Ea = 58 kJ/mol
• ΔH: -2884.5kJ/mol
• Temperature: 20°C
• Catalyst: MnO2
Þ Increase the rate of decomposition by 1073 times
Apparatus
• 2 empty 2L bottles
• Reactive tray
• Gloves
• Spatula
• 30% hydrogen peroxide
• Manganese dioxide catalyst
• Safety glasses
• 100 mL graduated cylinder
Procedure
• Pour 50 mL of 30% H2O2 into graduated cylinder
• Take an empty clear plastic 2L bottle and carefully pour in the
measured 50 mL of H2O2
• Open the bottle of of manganese dioxide and spoon out 1 level
spatula full of catalyst
• Empty it into the 2L bottle containting H2O2
Observed Evaluation
• Produce large quantities of condensed water vapour which will shoot
out of the flask up to the ceiling
• The reaction is so exothermic that the bottle shrink in size
• The oxygen gas generated in the reaction forces it out of the bottle
creating the cloud of condensed water vapour
The effect of catalyst MnO2
• Lower Ea from 75 -> 58 kJ/mol
• Rate of reaction increased by 1073 times