Catalytic Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide
Description: Hydrogen peroxide decomposes to oxygen and water when a small amount of manganese dioxide is added. Catalase enzyme from potato also decomposes hydrogen peroxide.
Source: UW Card Catalog
Year: N/A Vol: N/A Page: N/A
Keywords: Manganese Dioxide, Catalysis, Hydrogen Peroxide, Transition Metal Chemistry
Rating: 
Hazard: Some
- Use of mildly reactive reagents
- Skin corrosion hazard
- Acute toxicity hard – oral, inhalation
- Serious eye damage
- Short and long term aquatic toxicity hazard
- Specific organ toxicity – respiratory system
- Electric shock hazard
- Oxidizer
Effectiveness: Average
- Results are observable with guidance
- Mild effects are seen by audience
- Good reliability
- Time to results is low
- Display required
Difficulty: Medium
- Simple procedures
- Simple manipulations for most to perform
- Demos in which a display is used
- Use of toxic reagents
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required
- Use of UL approved three-prong plug and outlet
- Perform on a chemically resistant surface
- Absorbent materials on hand
- Prevent release of reagents to the environment
Class: Kinetics, Catalysis, Biochemistry, Redox Reactions
Division: General, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry
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