Question

What is the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to generate oxygen?

Answer 1

`2 color(white)(l) "H"_2 "O"_2 (aq) stackrel("MnO"_2)(to) 2color(white)(l) "H"_2 "O" (l) + "O"_2 (g)`

Explanation:

Two moles of hydrogen peroxide `"H"_2 "O"_2` decomposes to produce two moles of water `"H"_2 "O"` and one mole of oxygen gas `"O"_2 (g)`, which then bubbles off.

Both heating and the presence of a heterolytic catalyst `"MnO"_2`- which provides an activation site for the reaction to proceed- can speed up this process.