Take 5mL of hydrogen peroxide ('H_2O_2') solution in a test tube. Add a little manganese dioxide to it. Bring a burning matchstick in to the test tube. What do you observe? Find reason for your observation?

Explanation

Observation: Match stick burns more brightly.
Reason:
. 2H_2O_2 + MnO_2 rarr MnO_2 + 2H_2O + O_2.
Hydrogen peroxide decomposes to form water and oxygen. The speed of chemical reaction increases, when manganese dioxide is added. When a burning matchstick is shown at the mouth of the test tube the splinter burns vigourously. Gas which helps to the burning process is oxygen. After the reaction, manganese dioxide is left unchanged. Here .MnO_2. acts a s a catalyst.