MolDraw › 3D molecule models › Hydrogen peroxide structure
Hydrogen peroxide structure and 3D model (H2O2)
Hydrogen peroxide is two OH groups joined by a weak O–O single bond. The molecule is not flat: it is twisted like a half-open book.
Drag to rotate · pinch or scroll to zoom. 3D coordinates: computed with RDKit (ETKDG conformer, force-field optimised).
Hydrogen peroxide at a glance
| Formula | H2O2 |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 34.01 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | hydrogen peroxide |
| Atoms / bonds | 4 / 3 |
| H-bond donors / acceptors | 2 / 2 |
| logP (estimated) | 0.0 |
| SMILES | OO |
| InChIKey | MHAJPDPJQMAIIY-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| PubChem | 784 |
What the 3D model of Hydrogen peroxide shows
The model contains 4 atoms (2 heavy atoms and 2 hydrogens) joined by 3 bonds; in ball-and-stick mode every stick is one bond, and double or aromatic bonds are drawn as multiple sticks. Switch to space-filling to see the molecule as its electron cloud, scaled to van der Waals radii: this is the shape other molecules actually "feel". It can donate 2 and accept 2 hydrogen bonds, and its estimated logP of 0.0 means it is fairly balanced between water and fat. Its topological polar surface area is 40 Ų.
Shape and bond angles
| Atom(s) | Geometry / hybridisation | Angles & lengths |
|---|---|---|
| each O | Bent, sp³-like (two lone pairs) | H–O–O ≈ 95–100° |
| O–O bond | Single bond, weak | ≈ 1.47 Å |
| H–O–O–H dihedral | Skewed (gas phase) | ≈ 111° |
Is Hydrogen peroxide polar?
Yes. Because it is twisted and not flat, the O–H bond dipoles do not cancel. It hydrogen-bonds strongly and mixes with water.
Elemental composition of H2O2
| Element | Atoms | Mass (g/mol) | Mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrogen (H) | 2 | 2.016 | 5.93% |
| Oxygen (O) | 2 | 31.998 | 94.07% |
Calculated from IUPAC standard atomic weights. Check any formula with the molar mass calculator.
Uses of hydrogen peroxide
- Bleaching paper, textiles and hair
- Disinfectant and antiseptic in dilute solutions
- Rocket propellant and industrial oxidant in concentrated form
Interesting facts
- It slowly decomposes into water and oxygen, faster with light, heat or catalysts such as MnO₂.
- The enzyme catalase breaks down hydrogen peroxide in cells, which is why it fizzes on a cut.
- Concentrated hydrogen peroxide is a pale blue liquid that is denser than water.
Drawing structures for your notes? MolDraw is a free online chemical structure editor for molecules, reactions and lab diagrams.
Open MolDraw editorFrequently asked questions
What is the structure of Hydrogen peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide is two OH groups joined by a weak O–O single bond. The molecule is not flat: it is twisted like a half-open book. Its SMILES is OO.
Why is hydrogen peroxide not planar?
The lone pairs on the two oxygens repel each other, so the molecule twists about the O–O bond into an open-book shape.
Why is hydrogen peroxide stored in brown bottles?
Light speeds up its decomposition into water and oxygen, so dark bottles help it last longer.
What is the chemical formula and molar mass of Hydrogen peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide is H2O2 with a molar mass of 34.01 g/mol. It contains 4 atoms: 2 hydrogen, 2 oxygen.
What is the IUPAC name of Hydrogen peroxide?
The IUPAC name is hydrogen peroxide.
How do I draw Hydrogen peroxide?
Open the MolDraw editor, paste the SMILES OO or type "Hydrogen peroxide" in name search, and the structure is drawn for you. You can then export it as PNG, SVG, MOL or CDXML.