The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) primarily produces oxygen gas (O2). This reaction can be catalyzed by various substances, including enzymes such as catalase, or by the addition of heat.
When hydrogen peroxide breaks down, it splits into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2) according to the following chemical equation:
2 H2O2 → 2 H2O + O2
This reaction is quite common in biological systems, where catalase helps protect cells from oxidative damage by quickly converting hydrogen peroxide into harmless water and oxygen. In a laboratory setting, you can observe the bubbling due to the release of oxygen gas, which serves to illustrate this decomposition process.