Water is H2O. Hydrogen Peroxide is H2O2. That extra molecule of oxygen makes it a powerful oxidizing agent. The liquid is unstable and will decompose into oxygen and water over time. It has a great many uses in industry as well as in medicine. The hydrogen peroxide you can buy at your local pharmacy is very dilute, about 3% to 9%, with a 6% solution being the norm. Even then, it is powerful enough to cause a tingling sensation. Stronger solutions can cause skin blisters and, if consumed, can be lethal since concentrated hydrogen peroxide is classified as a hazardous substance.
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Hydrogen peroxide has many uses in industry, such as bleaching and deodorizing textiles and paper pulp, rocket fuel, and in the manufacture of foam rubber and glycerol, electroplating, and more. Medical and domestic uses commonly cover bleaching and disinfection since peroxide is a strong oxidizing agent and destroys pathogens. These are but a few common uses. Read on to learn more about the different uses of hydrogen peroxide.