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hydrogen peroxide

American  

noun

  1. a colorless, unstable, oily liquid, H 2 O 2 , an aqueous solution of which is used chiefly as an antiseptic and a bleaching agent.


hydrogen peroxide British  

noun

  1. a colourless oily unstable liquid, usually used in aqueous solution. It is a strong oxidizing agent used as a bleach for textiles, wood pulp, hair, etc, and as an oxidizer in rocket fuels. Formula: H 2 O 2

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

hydrogen peroxide Scientific  
  1. A colorless, dense liquid, that is often used as a bleach or is diluted with water for use as an antiseptic. Chemical formula: H 2 O 2 .


Etymology

Origin of hydrogen peroxide

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And products used in treatments offered by dentists cannot contain more than 6% hydrogen peroxide.

From BBC

According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires.

From BBC

But a quick perusal shows that most of these are simple, familiar chemicals that are allowed for very specific reasons, like hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol as disinfectants for equipment.

From Salon

That reaction also generates hydrogen peroxide, which is fed back into the zeolite to provide a source of oxygen for the conversion of methane to methanol.

From Science Daily

Researchers have achieved a breakthrough in improving the efficiency of an electrochemical reaction that produces hydrogen peroxide -- a vital chemical for industrial applications such as disinfection, bleaching, and sewage treatment.

From Science Daily