Hydrogen peroxide does have the chemical formula H₂O₂… and as for whether or not it will ruin your water, well, Harry, we suppose that would depend upon what type of water you have in mind.

Hydrogen peroxide functions as an oxidizer and gets used in a wide range of applications including as a wash solution used to make sure silicone wafers that go into computers contain no organic contaminants, as a toothpaste ingredient, as a food prep area sanitizing agent, as a means of disinfecting drinking water in some cases, and as a ‘shocking’ agent in pool/spa water that uses a biguanide sanitizer.

As for the pH of hydrogen peroxide (aka: how acidic or basic hydrogen peroxide is), that depends on the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide. At different concentrations dissolved hydrogen peroxide has different pH values. You may not, however, assume that you can draw a direct relationship between the pH of a water sample and its hydrogen peroxide concentration in all cases.

If you want to test for hydrogen peroxide levels/concentrations in water between 0.5ppm and 100ppm we suggest taking a look at the WaterWorks Hydrogen Peroxide Test Strips. Fast testing times and, in our experience, accurate results.

• sanitizer/disinfectant in a potable water systems, medical facilities, food processing facilities

• Cleansing agent in silicon wafer manufacturing facilities

• Part of a cyanide in water destruction system

• Sanitizer in a swimming pool or hot tub

Peroxide Test Strips 0.5ppm to 100ppm

In each of these applications the concentration of peroxide matters. Therefore anyone using peroxide as a disinfectant/sanitizer typically needs to measure its concentration.

Testing for Peroxide in Water?

Depending on one’s application, one of the following products ought to work quite well: Peroxide Check, Peroxide Check Low Range or Peroxide Check High Range.

Combined, all three products allow users to accurately detect peroxide concentrations as low as 0.05 ppm and as high as 30,000 ppm (3% solution).

Testing for Peroxide in Organic Solvents?

Due to the potentially volatile nature of some organic solvents, laboratory personnel must check certain organic solvents such as ethers, cyclohexanol, benzyl alcohol, styrene, and others for the presenece of peroxides.

These compounds can form dangerously high levels of peroxides when exposed to various naturally occurring elements such as light, heat, or the introduction of a contaminant. High levels of organic peroxides create a dangerous situation because even the slightest change in heat, vibration and/or friction can trigger an explosion. (See this Peroxide Formation Information Page for more information on the hazards associated with the formation of peroxides in organic solvents.)

Typical chemical indicators/compounds that work in aqueous environments (water) often come from organic solvents, thus making them water insoluble and useful for testing in water. If those same indicators find themselves in placed back into organic solvents, they will, as a general rule, go back into solution.

Procedures for peroxide testing in organic solvents do exist, but for legal & safety reasons we cannot list them.