Where does hydrogen peroxide come from?

Hydrogen peroxide can be manufactured in a number of different ways, but the most common methods involve the reaction of oxygen with isopropyl alcohol and anthraquinone. Some of the uses of hydrogen peroxide include as a bleaching agent and in the manufacture of other chemicals.

Hydrogen peroxide also has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that make it useful for a variety of medical and cosmetic purposes. However, the chemical has to be severely diluted for uses, as solutions containing more than 8 percent hydrogen peroxide are corrosive to the skin.

Most commercial grades of the chemical contain somewhere between 35 and 90 percent hydrogen peroxide in a solution of water and trace amounts of stabilizers.