The influence of ClO− and acidity in the reaction between H2O2 and CuCl2

Abstract The potentially explosive reaction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and copper chloride (CuCl2) was investigated. Pressure tests revealed that the reaction was strongly temperature - dependent and can easily undergo runaway reaction. Nevertheless, there was only a slight pressure increase at the low temperatures studied or when using low concentrations of CuCl2. Under the conditions generating the slight pressure increase, hypochlorite anions (ClO−) are generated and the acidity increases. As the reaction reaches completion, ClO− disappears, and the acidity decreases. Interestingly, the addition of phosphate buffer to maintain the weakly acid conditions led to a runaway reaction, and the use of basic ClO− promoted the exothermic reaction. Based on the results, acidity has a strong impact on the reaction behaviour.