Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: Bill.D.Katt. on 30/10/2010 21:15:19

Title: Other catalysts for H2O2?
Post by: Bill.D.Katt. on 30/10/2010 21:15:19

I have seen videos of KI and NaClO acting as a catalyst for 2H2O2=O2+2H20. What other common household items could act as such a catalyst?

Title: Other catalysts for H2O2?
Post by: maffsolo on 31/10/2010 00:54:57

Quote from: Bill.D.Katt. on 30/10/2010 21:15:19

I have seen videos of KI and NaClO acting as a catalyst for 2H2O2=O2+2H20. What other common household items could act as such a catalyst?

Cobalt Cloride + Hydrogen Peroxide --->

I could not find any common household Potassium Iodine nor any Sodium Clorate any where in the house so I settled for a hand full of CoCl2·6H2O from an old chemistry Set.

Title: Other catalysts for H2O2?
Post by: Bill.D.Katt. on 31/10/2010 04:54:00

Thanks! I mentioned KI and NaClO as common household chemicals because one is considered a salt substitute, and the other is bleach. Would this work with with other chlorides like CuCl2 or FeCl2?

Title: Other catalysts for H2O2?
Post by: Bored chemist on 31/10/2010 09:38:33

It might work a bit, but the reaction with Co++ is fairly specific.
Baking yeast or blood work too.

Title: Other catalysts for H2O2?
Post by: Bill.D.Katt. on 31/10/2010 16:55:18

What properties are we looking for in this catalyst? Is it extremely high electronegativity for the anion and low electronegativity for the cation? If so it would seem that NaCl would do a great job. Why doesn't it?

Title: Other catalysts for H2O2?
Post by: rosy on 31/10/2010 22:22:13

Liver is very effective. Also potatoes.
Those use the enzyme catalase.
I imagine yeast and blood also use catalase.

Title: Other catalysts for H2O2?
Post by: Bored chemist on 01/11/2010 06:56:21

I don't think the chloride had much to do with the decomposition. The fact that cobalt has two oxidation states is more likely to make a difference than the electronegativity.

Title: Other catalysts for H2O2?
Post by: Bill.D.Katt. on 01/11/2010 15:39:50

Bored Chemist, so a Manganese ion or iron ion would be great for this? (I was just considering the many oxidation states)

Title: Other catalysts for H2O2?
Post by: Bored chemist on 01/11/2010 19:34:46

Manganese dioxide is the "classic" catalyst for decomposing H2O2 in the lab.
Catalase is a (very complicated) iron compound.
Incidentally, hypochlorite doesn't catalyse the decomposition- it oxidises the peroxide to oxygen and is reduced to sodium chloride.