Safe use of Hydrogen Peroxide in the Organic Lab

Abstract

Outline Overview and leading references. Health and toxicity Acidity Oxidant Confinement/pressure Incompatibilities References to accidents involving H 2 O 2 Overview and leading references Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2, [7722-84-1], is an odorless and colorless molecule with a boiling point of approximately 150 °C. 1 Note that gaseous mixtures rich in H 2 O 2 can explode violently and without warning; under no conditions should ambient pressure distillation be attempted. The melting point of highly concentrated H 2 O 2 is just below 0 °C; however, the freezing point of aqueous solutions is typically much lower. 1 Cooling of dilute aqueous solutions typically results in separation of water ice (and some concentration of the hydrogen peroxide) while cooling of concentrated aq. H 2 O 2 can result in supercooling without crystallization. 2 The monograph, Applications of Hydrogen Peroxide and Derivatives offers a very useful introduction to H 2 O 2 preparation, properties, use in conjunction with homogeneous and