Everyday Applications and Benefits of Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide (H202) is nothing but a water molecule (H2O) with an extra oxygen atom. Hydrogen peroxide is used as a mild antiseptic for preventing infections on minor cuts, burns, etc. Minor mouth irritations and mucus removal are some oral applications of hydrogens peroxide. It works by releasing oxygen to the affected area. The oxygen released causes foaming, which cleans the area and removes dead skin cells.
At mild levels of concentration, hydrogen peroxide is used in products related to laundry, skincare and pet treatment purposes too. As the higher concentrations of this chemical might become harmful for pets or clothes etc. Hence it must be used in proper and safe proportions diluted in water.
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Hydrogen Peroxide Uses
Hydrogen peroxide is mostly taken in the application of the bleaching of cloths of cotton fabric with sodium chlorite and sodium hypochlorite as alternatives. Synthetic fibres are bleached with an agent that either oxidizes or reduces as per their chemical properties.
Here are Some Common Hydrogen Peroxide Uses of Hydrogen Peroxide Solution:
In the kitchen
Cleaning of the Dishwasher: In order to eliminate moulds, the intricate parts of dishwashers are sprinkled with hydrogen peroxide especially on those areas where water could linger long after each usage of the dishwasher. Eg: the rubber gasket grooves, traps, utensil basket, etc.
Scrubbing the Sink: Hydrogen peroxide is effective in cleaning the kitchen sink easily. A 3 percent strength of the solution is used after scrubbing the whole surface with baking soda. After giving it some time to settle on the surface, it is rinsed.
Scouring Cookware: Sprinkling baking soda on the blackened surfaces of cooking utensils such as pots, pans, etc. and spritzing them with a 3 percent strength solution of hydrogen peroxide is helpful in restoring them.
Get Rid of Garbage Can Germs: Garbage tanks are sprinkled with 1:1 concentrated form of hydrogen peroxide and then sun-dried for 3-4 hours in order to get rid of bad smells and germs from the tank.
In the Bathroom
Deep Cleaning of Toilet: Microbes including bacteria, yeasts, fungi, viruses, and spores can be easily removed from the toilet seats using hydrogen peroxide.
Killing Mould and Mildew: Mold and mildew can build up quickly in moist environments. Their growth can be prevented using hydrogen peroxide.
Whitening Old Porcelain: Porcelain pedestal sinks are also cleaned the same way as the kitchen sinks. Hydrogen peroxide helps in whitening the yellowed porcelain sink pedestals.
Foaming Away Soap Scum: Foaming paste is prepared using baking soda, white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. After applying this mixture, the surfaces of bathing tubs and basins are scrubbed and left for a few minutes and then rinsed.
In the Laundry Room
Removing Fabric Stains: Hydrogen peroxide is effective in cleaning stains of blood, grass, food or drinks like fruit juices and wines etc.
Brightening Dingy Whites: Dull white clothes can be brightened using hydrogen peroxide dissolved in the proper amount in water. Excess use of hydrogen peroxide, however, should be avoided for vintage clothes as it may weaken the fabric.
In the Garden
Sprouting Healthy Seeds: Studies prove that soaking seeds in 1 to 3 percent hydrogen peroxide helps in faster fermentation by softening the seed coat.
Clear Algae From Your Pond Water: Harmful algae are removed from water features and koi ponds by treating them with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide.
Treating Plants with Fungal Infections: Powdery moulds or other fungal infections of plants can be removed by spraying the plants with a hydrogen peroxide solution.
For Pets
Most veterinarians nowadays don't suggest using hydrogen peroxide for cleaning the pet’s wounds, even if it is too small. Still, it is useful in several other treatments for pets.
Some of them are discussed below:
Induce Vomiting for Poisoned Dogs: If a pet especially a dog or a cat) eats something poisonous, hydrogen peroxide is used to make the pet vomit. This method, however, is critical as ingestion of hydrogen peroxide is not completely safe for pets. Hence, it must be performed only after consulting a veterinarian or under his/her supervision.
Clean Out the Litter Box: The litter boxes of pet cats must be cleaned regularly to avoid bad odours and smells. For this, the box must be emptied first, then washed with hot water and soap, sprayed thoroughly with 1:1 concentrated hydrogen peroxide, rinsed after 15 minutes, dried and finally replaced.
Hydrogen Peroxide Uses for Skin
The National Capital Poison Center says that over-the-counter (OTC) products with hydrogen peroxide should contain “safe” concentrations (not more than 3 per cent) of hydrogen peroxide. Still, there are some industrial versions of such products that may contain up to 90 per cent.
A doctor may use small doses of hydrogen peroxide to treat instances of oxidative stress in a patient's skin. Despite this, it is widely not regarded as a safe product for alternative skincare.
Side Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is classified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) for humans at low doses. If you get it into one’s eyes, it could cause burning or abrasion of the cornea.
Hydrogen peroxide has vast applications in disinfecting tools, bleaching hair, and cleaning surfaces. It is also useful in oral care and gardening. It may be surprising to know that a touted skin treatment solution could also work as a household cleaner. The reason is the presence of excess amounts of hydrogen peroxides in them.
Conclusion
Hydrogen peroxide has a wide range of applications in household cleaning, disinfecting, gardening and treatment purposes. The concentration differs for each application, however. It may be used in quantities of around ⅓1/3 of a cup per gallon of water for fish container water and also may be used at full strength for treating the bad odour of garbage tanks and pet cat’s litter boxes.
FAQs on Uses of Hydrogen Peroxide in Chemistry
1. What are the main uses of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in chemistry and daily life?
Hydrogen peroxide is a versatile compound with numerous applications. In chemistry and industry, it is primarily used as a bleaching agent for textiles and paper pulp, and as a powerful oxidiser in chemical synthesis. For daily life, it is used as a mild antiseptic for wounds, a disinfectant for surfaces, and in water treatment to control pollution.
2. What are the major industrial applications of hydrogen peroxide as per the CBSE syllabus?
Hydrogen peroxide has several key industrial applications that are important for the CBSE curriculum. These include:
- Pulp and Paper Industry: It is used for bleaching paper pulp, which is an environmentally friendlier alternative to chlorine-based bleaches.
- Chemical Synthesis: It serves as an oxidising agent in the production of chemicals like sodium perborate and percarbonate, which are used in high-quality detergents.
- Environmental Protection: It is used in pollution control treatments, such as the oxidation of cyanides in industrial waste and the restoration of aerobic conditions to sewage water.
3. How does hydrogen peroxide act as both an oxidising and a reducing agent? Provide examples.
Hydrogen peroxide's ability to act as both an oxidising and a reducing agent is due to the intermediate oxidation state (-1) of oxygen.
- As an oxidising agent, it accepts electrons and its oxygen atoms are reduced to -2. For example, it oxidises ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) to ferric ions (Fe³⁺) in an acidic medium.
2Fe²⁺(aq) + H₂O₂(aq) + 2H⁺(aq) → 2Fe³⁺(aq) + 2H₂O(l) - As a reducing agent, it donates electrons and its oxygen atoms are oxidised to 0 (as O₂). For example, it reduces permanganate ions (MnO₄⁻) to manganese ions (Mn²⁺).
2MnO₄⁻(aq) + 5H₂O₂(aq) + 6H⁺(aq) → 2Mn²⁺(aq) + 8H₂O(l) + 5O₂(g)
4. Why is a dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide used as an antiseptic for wounds?
A dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide acts as an effective antiseptic due to its ability to release nascent oxygen upon decomposition. When applied to a wound, the enzyme catalase present in our tissues rapidly breaks down H₂O₂ into water and oxygen. This burst of oxygen helps to kill anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that thrive in low-oxygen environments), thereby preventing infection.
5. What is the importance of hydrogen peroxide in environmental chemistry, especially in pollution control?
Hydrogen peroxide plays a crucial role in environmental chemistry because it is an eco-friendly oxidising agent. Its primary advantage is that its decomposition product is simply water (H₂O), leaving no harmful residues. It is used to treat industrial effluents by oxidising toxic pollutants like cyanides and phenols, and also to control the odour of waste by preventing the growth of sulphur-producing bacteria.
6. What is 'perhydrol' and how is its use different from regular hydrogen peroxide solutions?
'Perhydrol' is the commercial name for a 30% aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide. Its primary difference from the lower concentration solutions (like the 3% solution used as an antiseptic) is its much higher strength as an oxidising agent. Due to its high concentration, perhydrol is used in more demanding applications, such as a propellant for rockets and a powerful oxidiser in organic synthesis in laboratories.
7. Why must hydrogen peroxide be stored in dark-coloured, wax-lined bottles?
Hydrogen peroxide must be stored carefully because it is chemically unstable and decomposes into water and oxygen (2H₂O₂ → 2H₂O + O₂). This decomposition is accelerated by two main factors:
- Exposure to Light: Light, particularly UV light, provides the energy to break the O-O bond, initiating decomposition. Dark-coloured bottles prevent light from reaching the solution.
- Catalytic Surfaces: Rough surfaces, metal ions, and alkali present in ordinary glass can catalyse its decomposition. A wax lining provides a smooth, inert surface that minimises this catalytic effect.
