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What happens when you mix hydrogen peroxide and potassium permanganate?
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+ Chemical reactions
+ Hydrogen peroxide
+ Oxidation
+ Potassium
+ Sodium
+ Chemistry
+ Potassium permanganate
+ Organic chemistry
+ Hydrogen
Posted by
Kurt Franzen
What happens when you mix hydrogen peroxide and potassium permanganate?
I have done this reaction in acidic conditions, and the appearance is almost magical. The deep purple color disappears leaving a colorless or very pale pink solution and oxygen bubbles are released. The equation is: 2 MnO4- + 5 H2O2 + 6 H+ => 5 O2 + 2 Mn2+ + 8 H2O
In basic solution, the reaction is not as pretty with the formation of the brown MnO2.
I have done this reaction in acidic conditions, and the appearance is almost magical. The deep purple color disappears leaving a colorless or very pale pink solution and oxygen bubbles are released. The equation is: 2 MnO4- + 5 H2O2 + 6 H+ => 5 O2 + 2 Mn2+ + 8 H2O
In basic solution, the reaction is not as pretty with the formation of the brown MnO2.
It decays faster, much faster. As you concentrate it, it becomes more unstable since oxygen is a radical and wants to gain an electron rather than share. This means that as there is less water, there is less surface area for light to disperse through water, and this means more collisions with the molecules of H2O2 in aqueous phase. This light also has a higher probability of having enough energy to break to bonds and create OH-, amd then react with H+ to form water, H2O. But beware! It still takes time to decay, and as you get more concentrated, it can be dangerous as it is corrosive and gets quite corrosive quick. “Dry" (very very very very concentrated) peroxide can easy destroy flesh on contact after it turns your skin oils into acetone and water else oxygen likes to make, which is like a lot of chemicals. So in short, just keep it at 3%. Or maybe 5 or 7 if your feeling extra dangerous today.
It decays faster, much faster. As you concentrate it, it becomes more unstable since oxygen is a radical and wants to gain an electron rather than share. This means that as there is less water, there is less surface area for light to disperse through water, and this means more collisions with the molecules of H2O2 in aqueous phase. This light also has a higher probability of having enough energy to break to bonds and create OH-, amd then react with H+ to form water, H2O. But beware! It still takes time to decay, and as you get more concentrated, it can be dangerous as it is corrosive and gets quite corrosive quick. “Dry" (very very very very concentrated) peroxide can easy destroy flesh on contact after it turns your skin oils into acetone and water else oxygen likes to make, which is like a lot of chemicals. So in short, just keep it at 3%. Or maybe 5 or 7 if your feeling extra dangerous today.
I have done this reaction in acidic conditions, and the appearance is almost magical. The deep purple color disappears leaving a colorless or very pale pink solution and oxygen bubbles are released. The equation is:
2 MnO4- + 5 H2O2 + 6 H+ => 5 O2 + 2 Mn2+ + 8 H2O
In basic solution, the reaction is not as pretty with the formation of the brown MnO2.
3 H2O2 + 2 MnO4- => 3 O2 + 2 MnO2 + 2 OH- + 2 H2O
I have done this reaction in acidic conditions, and the appearance is almost magical. The deep purple color disappears leaving a colorless or very pale pink solution and oxygen bubbles are released. The equation is:
2 MnO4- + 5 H2O2 + 6 H+ => 5 O2 + 2 Mn2+ + 8 H2O
In basic solution, the reaction is not as pretty with the formation of the brown MnO2.
3 H2O2 + 2 MnO4- => 3 O2 + 2 MnO2 + 2 OH- + 2 H2O
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It decays faster, much faster. As you concentrate it, it becomes more unstable since oxygen is a radical and wants to gain an electron rather than share. This means that as there is less water, there is less surface area for light to disperse through water, and this means more collisions with the molecules of H2O2 in aqueous phase. This light also has a higher probability of having enough energy to break to bonds and create OH-, amd then react with H+ to form water, H2O. But beware! It still takes time to decay, and as you get more concentrated, it can be dangerous as it is corrosive and gets quite corrosive quick. “Dry" (very very very very concentrated) peroxide can easy destroy flesh on contact after it turns your skin oils into acetone and water else oxygen likes to make, which is like a lot of chemicals. So in short, just keep it at 3%. Or maybe 5 or 7 if your feeling extra dangerous today.
It decays faster, much faster. As you concentrate it, it becomes more unstable since oxygen is a radical and wants to gain an electron rather than share. This means that as there is less water, there is less surface area for light to disperse through water, and this means more collisions with the molecules of H2O2 in aqueous phase. This light also has a higher probability of having enough energy to break to bonds and create OH-, amd then react with H+ to form water, H2O. But beware! It still takes time to decay, and as you get more concentrated, it can be dangerous as it is corrosive and gets quite corrosive quick. “Dry" (very very very very concentrated) peroxide can easy destroy flesh on contact after it turns your skin oils into acetone and water else oxygen likes to make, which is like a lot of chemicals. So in short, just keep it at 3%. Or maybe 5 or 7 if your feeling extra dangerous today.
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