Note 18 — Chapter IV · OZONE AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE—DALTON'S LAW

Schönbein states that the formation of hydrogen peroxide is to be remarked in every oxidation in water or in the presence of aqueous vapour. According to Struve, hydrogen peroxide is contained in snow and in rain-water, and its formation, together with ozone and ammonium nitrate, is even probable in the processes of respiration and combustion. A solution of tin in mercury, or liquid tin amalgam, when shaken up in water containing sulphuric acid, produces hydrogen peroxide, whilst iron under the same circumstances does not give rise to its formation. The presence of small quantities of hydrogen peroxide in these and similar cases is recognised by many reactions. Amongst them, its action on chromic acid in the presence of ether is very characteristic. Hydrogen peroxide converts the chromic acid into a higher oxide, Cr2O7, which is of a dark-blue colour and dissolves in ether. This ethereal solution is to a certain degree stable, and therefore the presence of hydrogen peroxide may be recognised by mixing the liquid to be tested with ether and adding several drops of a solution of chromic acid. On shaking the mixture the ether dissolves the higher oxide of chromium which is formed, and acquires a blue colour. The formation of hydrogen peroxide in the combustion and oxidation of substances containing or evolving hydrogen must be understood in the light of the conception, to be considered later, of molecules occupying equal volumes in a gaseous state. At the moment of its evolution a molecule H2 combines with a molecule O2, and gives H2O2. As this substance is unstable, a large proportion of it is decomposed, a small amount only remaining unchanged. If it is obtained, water is easily formed from it; this reaction evolves heat, and the reverse action is not very probable. Direct determinations show that the reaction H2O2 = H2O + O evolves 22,000 heat units. From this it will be understood how easy is the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, as well as the fact that a number of substances which are not directly oxidised by oxygen are oxidised by hydrogen peroxide and by ozone, which also evolves heat on decomposition. Such a representation of the origin of hydrogen peroxide has been developed by me since 1870. Recently (1890) Traube has pronounced a similar opinion, stating that Zn under the action of water and air gives, besides ZnH2O2, also H2O2.