Introduction to Hydrogen Peroxide/Physical and Chemical Properties

H₂O₂

Electrical Properties

1. Specific conductivity

The measured conductivity is largely a function of H₂O₂ purity. Like water, H₂O₂ is a very weak electrolyte with the electrical conductivity of its solutions being similar to that of water. H₂O₂ is also an excellent ionizing solvent.

Specific Conductance of H2O2

Values expressed as: ohms^-1cm^-1x 10⁶

Ref: W.C. Schumb, C.N. Satterfield, R.L. Wentworth. "Hydrogen Peroxide", ACS Monograph, Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York (1955), pg. 757.

2. Dielectric constant

Composition Isotherms for H2O2

Predictive equation: e = 84.2 - 0.62t + 0.0032t²

Ref: P.M. Gross and R.C. Taylor, J.Amer.Chem.Soc. 72:2075 (1950)

NOTES:

The dielectric constant is less than that of water at all temperatures.
A maximum value occurs at about 55 wt.% H₂O₂ at 0 ^oC, though the value is only 8-9% greater than that for water. The maximum is more pronounced and shifts to higher H₂O₂ concentrations as the temperatures decrease.

3. Magnetic susceptibility

Like water, H₂O₂ is a diamagnetic substance (i.e., acquires an induced magnetic moment when placed in a magnetic field, and tends to be expelled from an inhomogeneous field).

For anhydrous H₂O₂, the susceptibilities are:

k (10 ^oC) = -0.73 x 10^-6 cgs.emu/cc
c _g = -0.50 x 10^-6 cgs.emu/g
c _m = -17 x 10^-6 cgs.emu/mole

Permeability is 1 – 9.2 x 10^-6 cgs.emu/cc, or very close to that of water.

Magnetic Susceptibility

Values expressed as: c_g (cgs.emu/g x 10⁷)

Ref: A.B. Neiding and I.A. Kazarnovskii, Dokl
ady Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. , 74:735 (1950) – CA 45, 1827g.

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