Potassium Iodide Lab Report

Words: 662
Pages: 3

Koral Villalobos
Jayla Anaya
Mr. Ripko
4th period Science
October 5th 2015
Question:
What ratio of potassium iodide to hydrogen peroxide produces the most foam?
Background Research: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is similar to water (H2O) however it is the extra oxygen atom that turns this molecule into an extremely powerful oxidizer. An oxidizer is a chemical compound that readily transfers oxygen atoms. The single bond between the two oxygen atoms is weak, so that H2O2 readily fragments into either H and HO2 or two OHs. Either way, the resulting species are free radicals, which means they are very reactive, and this makes H2O2 a very powerful oxidising agent. For this reason it has been utilised in rocket propulsion, when it is used to oxidise the hydrazine fuel, liberating hot gases (steam and oxygen) which propel the rocket forward.
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The potassium iodide acts as the catalyst. A catalyst is what will quicken the reaction and will speed up the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide, but does not get used up. When hydrogen peroxide breaks down it creates water (H20)and oxygen (02). The soap bubbles erupting carry oxygen. Steam is also produced during the reaction. The steam signifies that the reaction is exothermic(gives off heat). The rapid evolution of oxygen gas is produced by the following reaction:
2 H2O2 (aq) = 2 H2O (l) + O2 (g) + heat
The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of iodide ion occurs in two