Hydrogen peroxide experiments. Hydrogen peroxide (H2.02, bottle, left) is a powerful oxidizer, used as a bleach and as a reagent in the chemical industry. As it decomposes it forms water and oxygen. This reaction can be speeded by the use of a catalyst, with two examples provided here. An inorganic catalyst is manganese dioxide (watchglass, bottom). An organic catalyst is liver tissue (plate, right), which contains catalase, an oxidoreductase enzyme. This protects liver cells from the toxic effects of hydrogen peroxide produced in the body as a natural byproduct of body processes.