1. Hydrogen peroxide is stored in a dark, opaque container because, at room temperature, it spontaneously forms water and oxygen in the presence of light. Even if exposure to light is minimal, hydrogen peroxide will break down over time, giving it a limited shelf life. a. What can you infer about the relative thermodynamic and kinetic stability of hydrogen peroxide?

b. What role does light play in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide?

c. If manganese dioxide is added to hydrogen peroxide, bubbles of gas are produced immediately, but the MnO2 is not changed in the reaction. What can you conclude about the role of manganese dioxide and its effect on the activation energy in the decomposition reaction?