Can hydrogen peroxide be used to oxidize aluminum? - ECHEMI.com (2024)

Do you want the theoretical answer, or the real-life practical one?

Theoretically, yes. In fact hydrogen peroxide/water solution in any concentration will oxidize aluminum 100% of the time.

The problem is, this is aluminum we’re talking about. It is so easily oxidized that it can reduce iron oxides. That’s called thermite- a fine mixture of raw aluminum and iron oxide (rust will literally work, although the water content could cause issues with hydrogen embrittlement if used for welding) is ignited by a burning sparkler or magnesium ribbon, and in the resulting reaction the aluminum strips the oxygen off of the iron giving molten iron and a mass of aluminum oxide slag. Used for things like welding railroad rails and WWII incendiary bombs!

So, the next part is, what happens when you expose aluminum to hydrogen peroxide? It’s a lot stronger oxidizer than rust!

Here on earth, aluminum naturally reacts with the atmosphere to form an aluminum oxide layer. That layer is what you normally see when looking at almost anything made of aluminum, and is what gives aluminum wear resistance and protects against further weathering. It also protects against chemicals unless they can dissolve or penetrate the oxide layer. Mercury and fluorine can penetrate it, and acids or bases of a certain minimum strength can dissolve the aluminum oxide. However, even though hydrogen peroxide is a weak acid it is too weak to attack the oxide layer.

End result? In real life aluminum and hydrogen peroxide get along so well that it is one of the few materials recommended for storing highly concentrated peroxide solutions- even better than 316 stainless steel. The peroxide will rapidly attack any flaws in the oxide coating of the storage vessel, but this only builds the coating up. And since aluminum oxide has essentially no catalytic activity on hydrogen peroxide the net result is two very compatible products unless something else is introduced to disturb the oxide layer.

Can hydrogen peroxide be used to oxidize aluminum? - ECHEMI.com (2024)
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