Hydrogen peroxide is effective at killing bacteria because the fewer electrons bacteria has, the more damaged their cell walls become.Įventually, the cell walls of bacteria are destroyed as the oxidation process continues. This is because blood contains catalase, an enzyme that attacks H 2O 2 and causes it to decompose.īecause the oxygen atoms in the molecule are highly reactive, they are able to steal electrons from other compounds, including bacteria. When hydrogen peroxide comes into contact with blood, it converts into water and oxygen gas. This is why H 2O 2 is sometimes used to clean and disinfect wounds. When hydrogen peroxide decomposes, a lot of energy is released, killing bacteria and other microorganisms. Its ability to kill and deter bacteria is part of the reason why honey has an eternal shelf life the traces of H 2O 2 prevent bacteria from growing and help to preserve the sticky treat for – literally – centuries. Hydrogen peroxide has a lot of antibacterial properties that are used in the medical, cosmetic and cleaning industries. Hydrogen peroxide is widely used as a bleaching agent, especially for wood pulp, cotton, paper and hair. These reactions often result in bleaching.
Hydrogen peroxide uses free#
When this bond breaks, hydrogen peroxide decomposes into water and oxygen gas, releasing free radicals that are highly reactive with other substances. This is an oxygen-oxygen single bond that is very weak and unstable. This happens because H 2O 2 contains a peroxide bond. When these bonds are broken, the molecule is altered so that it appears to have no colour. Its high reactivity means that hydrogen peroxide can break the chemical bonds of a chromophore, the region of a molecule that is responsible for colour. It is an effective bleaching agent because of its instability and is used to bleach paper, wood pulp, cotton and much more. In fact, around 60% of the world’s production of hydrogen peroxide is used in this industry. What Is Hydrogen Peroxide Used For? Bleaching AgentĪlthough H 2O 2 has a variety of applications, its main use is as a bleaching agent.
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