Calcium_peroxide

Calcium peroxide

Calcium peroxide

Chemical compound


Calcium peroxide or calcium dioxide is the inorganic compound with the formula CaO2. It is the peroxide (O22) salt of Ca2+. Commercial samples can be yellowish, but the pure compound is white. It is almost insoluble in water.[3]

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Structure and stability

As a solid, it is relatively stable against decomposition. In contact with water however it hydrolyzes with release of oxygen. Upon treatment with an acid, it forms hydrogen peroxide.

Preparation

Calcium peroxide is produced by combining calcium salts and hydrogen peroxide:

Ca(OH)2 + H2O2 → CaO2 + 2 H2O

The octahydrate precipitates upon the reaction of calcium hydroxide with dilute hydrogen peroxide. Upon heating it dehydrates.

Applications

It is mainly used as an oxidant to enhance the extraction of precious metals from their ores. In its second main application, it is used as a food additive under the E number E930 it is used as flour bleaching agent and improving agent.[3]

In agriculture it is used in the presowing treatments of rice seed. Also, calcium peroxide has found use in aquaculture to oxygenate and disinfect water. In the ecological restoration industry it is used in the treatment of soils. Calcium peroxide is used in a similar manner to magnesium peroxide for environmental restoration programs. It is used to restore soil and groundwater contaminated with petroleum by the process of enhanced in-situ bioremediation. It is a minor component of some dentifrices.

It is also used for curing polythioether polymers by oxidising terminal thiol groups to disulphide bridges.[citation needed]


References

  1. "Substance Registry Services | US EPA".
  2. Jakob H, Leininger S, Lehmann T, et al. "Peroxo Compounds, Inorganic". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a19_177.pub2. ISBN 978-3527306732.

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