3 ms·
That is really cool. Any chemists care to comment on why the peroxide would explode in the microwave but not the oven?
by ajb 12y ago
That is really cool.
Any chemists care to comment on why the peroxide would explode in the microwave but not the oven?
- jgamman 12y agomicrowaves are at the wavelength that 'excites' / 'wobbles' / 'resonates' (pick your analogy of ball and spring physics) the O-H bond. H2O is entirely O-H bonds (give or take) and hence microwaves heat food vicariously via the water in it (heating up day old rice from the fridge is easier/better if you put a few mL of water in it). Peroxide peroxide is H-O-O-H so plenty of O-H bonds to excite and hence decompose...
- deleted 12y ago[deleted]
- refurb 12y agohttp://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=1666345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fiel5%2F11051%2F34864%2F01666345.pdf%3Farnumber%3D1666345 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=166634... These guy tested the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide across a range of microwave frequencies. Since hydrogen peroxide decomposes when heated, I'm guessing it's just due to the microwaves heating the mixture.