Compound reference
Hydrogen peroxide
H₂O₂
The chemistry
A chain: H–O–O–H. The two oxygens hold hands in the middle. Add heat and that O–O bond snaps - the basis of bleach.
Remember it as…
H–O–O–H. The middle bond is the weak link. Each O bent like in water, two lone pairs each.
Common mix-up
H₂O₂ is NOT "two waters stuck together." (H₂O)₂ would be two complete H–O–H units. H₂O₂ is one molecule with one continuous backbone - the two O atoms are bonded to each other.
Where the name comes from
Per- (Latin "very/through") + oxide. The "per-" prefix in chemistry signals an extra oxygen beyond the normal oxide.
Where you meet it
Antiseptic, hair bleach, rocket-fuel oxidizer - all uses of the same trick: that weak O–O bond breaks easily and releases reactive oxygen.
PubChem facts
- IUPAC name
- hydrogen peroxide
- Molecular weight
- 34.015 g/mol
Also known as: hydrogen dioxide
Handling note
A strong oxidizer; concentrated solutions are corrosive and burn skin, though the dilute drugstore form is mild.
BondingMolecular geometry
Chemical data from PubChem (NIH/NCBI)