Question
What precautions are necessary while storing hydrogen peroxide?
Or
Explain why hydrogen peroxide is stored in coloured/plastic bottles.
Solution
(i) Hydrogen peroxide cannot be stored in glass bottles since the rough surface of glass, alkali oxides present in it and exposure to light catalyse its decomposition. H2O2is stored in vessels of pure aluminium or in stone jars in the dark. Concentrated solutions of hydrogen peroxide are stored these days in polyethene bottles kept in refrigerators.
(ii) A small amount of phosphoric acid, glycerol or acetanilide must be added to retard the decomposition of H2O2. These are also called inhibitors.
