Physical properties of pure hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

In spite of contrary evidence of long standing pure hydrogen peroxide is still described in some chemistry textbooks as "a pale blue, syrupy liquid, freezing at -0.89°C." This is all incorrect as the record shows. The Color of Hydrogen PeroxideLiquid hydrogen peroxide, like water, is essentially transparent to visible light. Yet we know that the clearest water under great depth, as in deep-sea diving, lets through only the blue-green portion of the sunlight. This is due to the very strong and broad vibrational bands of the water molecule in the infrared. Their overtones and combinations extend almost into the red, hence the ab-