What Is Magnesium Peroxide?
Magnesium peroxide is the peroxide of magnesium, also known as magnesium dioxide.
There are several ways to synthesize the anhydrous form of magnesium peroxide: one is to add solid potassium peroxide in a solution of magnesium nitrate and ammonia. Another is to add hydrogen peroxide and alkali to ether or aqueous solutions of magnesium compounds.
Uses of Magnesium Peroxide
Magnesium peroxide is mainly used as an oxidizer, bleach, and disinfectant. Magnesium peroxide is an alkaline earth metal peroxide. As such, it is not as hazardous as alkali metal peroxides, as its reaction with water does not produce large amounts of oxygen.
Peroxides are classified as oxygen bleaches among bleaching agents.
These oxygen bleaches are sometimes used as disinfectants because they are not only bleaching agents but also have bactericidal properties.