Hydrogen Peroxide
| Chemical Name | Hydrogen Peroxide |
| Chemical Formula | H2O2 |
| CAS# | 7722-84-1 |
| IUPAC ID | Hydrogen Peroxide |
| EC Number | 231-765-0 |
| Appearance | In its pure form, it is a very pale blue liquid, slightly more viscous than water |
| Odour | slightly sharp |
| Flash Point | Non-flammable |
| Uses | Bleaching of chemical pulp, mechanical pulp, and recycled pulp (de-inking). Manufacturing of sodium percarbonate and sodium perborate, which are used as mild bleaches in laundry detergents. It is also used as a mild antiseptic to prevent infection of minor cuts, scrapes, and burns on skin. |
Hydrogen peroxide is a colourless liquid at room temperature with a bitter taste. Small amounts of gaseous hydrogen peroxide occur naturally in the air. Hydrogen peroxide is unstable, decomposing readily to oxygen and water with release of heat. Although non-flammable, it is a powerful oxidizing agent that can cause spontaneous combustion when it comes in contact with organic material. Hydrogen peroxide is found in many households at low concentrations (3-9%) for medicinal applications and as a clothes and hair bleach. In industry, hydrogen peroxide in higher concentrations is used as bleach for textiles and paper, as a component of rocket fuels, and for producing foam rubber and organic chemicals.