Note 25 — Chapter IV · OZONE AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE—DALTON'S LAW

As the result of careful research, certain of the catalytic or contact phenomena have been subjected to exact explanation, which shows the participation of a substance present in the process of a reaction, whilst, however, it does not alter the series of changes proceeding from mechanical actions only. Professor Schöne, of the Petroffsky Academy, has already explained a number of reactions of hydrogen peroxide which previously were not understood. Thus, for instance, he showed that with hydrogen peroxide, alkalis give peroxides of the alkaline metals, which combine with the remaining hydrogen peroxide, forming unstable compounds which are easily decomposed, and therefore alkalis evince a decomposing (catalytic) influence on solutions of hydrogen peroxide. Only acid solutions of hydrogen peroxide, and then only dilute ones, can be preserved well.