Why Does Hydrogen Peroxide Foam When Put On A Cut?

Hydrogen peroxide's foaming action is due to the catalase in blood and cells. Check out this episode of BrainStuff to learn how hydrogen peroxide interacts with catalase.

Whether the topic is popcorn or particle physics, you can count on the HowStuffWorks team to explore - and explain - the everyday science in the world around us on BrainStuff.

[lampsalot]

This guy is hilarious! Love his dry humor delivery. "Then getting very very bored and ask yourself what you're doing with your life."

[MrJhofree]

I thought it was because it was killing the bacteria

[neonm]

Dude, way to much energy, tone it down just a bit.

[wokcentral]

This is the 8-ball music on game pigeon😂😂

[kyledog]

A man walks into a bar, he asks for H2O. His buddy says, "I'll have some H2O too!" His buddy dies. If you understand, this is cheesey and funny.

[Binkx]

As a kid they were great at distracting me from noticing the pain of my cuts and scrapes. As an adult I still like the bubbles. :-)

[BillieJean.]

I refuse to believe this lol it foams because its killing bacteria damnit 😂

[shanedavis]

Oh my god, his level is excitement is unmeasurable wow, it's contagious. I hope he makes more videos

[KoolBreeze]

Hydrogen peroxide also reacts with ear wax. When I was younger my ear was clogged or something of that nature I remember someone had put a few drops to loosen the blockage. I don't really recall who but I do remember the bubbling feeling.I still use it for like a bad itch once and a while, probably shouldn't use it this way but I figure it's better than sticking a q-tip or something in my ear that could actually puncture my drum.

[BronzeEnigma]

Did it with my liver, it worked well!

[TheRealFlenuan]

This channel should be more popular!!!

[twakefield]

This is something that I have wondered for a long time now.

[Sjsime]

Excellent video! The background music is a tad loud, however the video is still informative thus great.

[TheLightintheheart]

Ok, so if this is catalase that makes it foam on the body, how do you explain it when it foams on a surface, so example to clean the bathroom or the kitchen sink? Many thanks.

[chairshoe]

One time i had a huge nosebleed and let it drop into a small cup, then i poured hydrogen peroxide in. It made a giant solid jelly like clump of blood, the reaction gave off heat too, so the clump was like almost uncomfortable to hold. Then I squashed it. That was a fun day.

[OmegaMegalodon]

hahaha...love that part when you mention the potato.

[walkingcorpse]

I've never gotten pain from hydrogen peroxide. Rubbing alcohol on the other hurts alot for a few seconds.

[marinaoeo]

I one got a second degree burn and it hurt so bad I cried. I then thought I should clean it but with something that wont hurt so I used hydrogen peroxide and something crazy happened. not only the burn turned white but for quite some time the pain disappeared!!! how do you explain this? should I continue applying it when the pain comes back?

[Cashman]

I have seen what hydrogen peroxide is. But I have never seen it working. Thanks. Brain stuff

[ragingumbreon]

Also peroxide cleans infection out of wounds.