nestle between mostly livid and orangish bottles in yourmedicinecabinet , that brown feeding bottle of H peroxide likely looks like it come from an old - fashioned druggist . But its peculiar promotional material is n’t for tradition ’s sake .
The chemical rule of a hydrogen peroxide molecule is H2O2 : two hydrogen mote and two atomic number 8 particle . This is n’t too far off fromwater — H2O — and , in fact , most of the liquid state in every storage - bought container of hydrogen hydrogen peroxide really is just water . If it ’s labeled 3 per centum , thatmeansit ’s 3 pct hydrogen hydrogen peroxide and 97 percent H2O . Other coarse concentrations include 6 pct and 35 percent , though they ’re more often used in science laboratory and food manufacturing scene than households .
Hydrogen peroxide ’s double dose of O gives it the power to kill bacteria and bleaching agent surfaces , which makes it an effectivecleaningsolution and smirch remover . ( Health professional generally do n’t urge it for wounds any longer . ) But as peroxide providerBulk Peroxide explains , it does n’t take much to give away the shackle holding the atom together — like exposure to light or heat . lay in hydrogen hydrogen peroxide in an opaque brown bottlepreventslight rays from penetrating its content .
But if you transferred your hydrogen peroxide into a more aesthetically pleasing clean-cut container , do n’t worry . The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is n’t severe , and it can happen eventually even when it is stored properly .
“ The extra O break down over clip , ” physician Sarah Pickering Beerstold Cleveland Clinic ’s Health Essentials . “ Once it lose its bubble , you ’re essentially left with water . ” If there ’s no sign of foam when you apply atomic number 1 hydrogen peroxide to a surface , it may no longer be H peroxide . And if you like to keep it in a nebulizer bottleful for ease of cleansing , it ’s best to indue in a dark , unintelligible one .
