A Russian rocket, propelled by hydrogen peroxide.
Yes, hydrogen peroxide can be used as rocket fuel and, in fact, has been the propellant of choice for the Russian space program for decades. That doesn’t mean that the key to everyone’s private rocket company is kept in the medicine cabinet. The form used for rocket fuel has a concentration of at least 90%, while the disinfectant in a medicine cabinet has been diluted to around 3%. It’s still powerful enough to kill germs, but not strong enough to launch a rocket into space.
A bottle of hydrogen peroxide.
Concentrated hydrogen peroxide is remarkably stable considering the amount of potential energy it contains. While medical-grade products are as close as the nearest pharmacy, rocket-grade versions can be harder to come by. Purchase is legal, but must be stored inside ventilated aluminum alloy containers in properly shaded areas, like gasoline or kerosene. The liquid is not flammable like gasoline, but can cause severe oxidation burns if it contacts exposed skin.
Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used to prevent wounds from becoming infected.
Unlike the rocket propellants used to power American missiles and spacecraft, hydrogen peroxide does not ignite or burn to generate thrust. Instead, the concentrated liquid is stored inside a special tank pressurized with nitrogen. At the other end of this tank is a conical rocket motor nozzle. What happens next may require a quick scientific explanation.
Hydrogen peroxide is nothing more than ordinary water (H 2 0 ) that contains additional oxygen atoms, turning it into H 2 0 2 . This hydrogen peroxide wants to release the extra oxygen atom to make the H2O much more stable. When an element such as silver is introduced into the compound, a catalytic and exothermic reaction occurs. This reaction generates significant amounts of heat and steam. Removing the silver catalyst would end the reaction, shutting down the rocket engine.
When a catalyst pack containing silver discs is inserted into the concentrated, pressurized liquid, the reaction is instant and powerful. In fact, for every unit of liquid peroxide, more than 5,000 units of propulsive energy are created. All that steam has to go somewhere, and that’s where the rocket nozzle comes into play. The rocket motor directs the propellant through a narrow passage and then expels it through a conical nozzle. This propels the rocket or missile into the sky.
Although many rocket systems now use a dual propellant system with a separate oxidizer and fuel, hydrogen peroxide engines remain very popular for ground-based activities. Experimental jet packs for individual pilots and booster engines for stunt motorcycles use it as a propellant. Of all the types of rocket fuel available, it is considered by many to be the safest, as it is relatively stable, requires no external ignition, and leaves only water in its wake.