2 H[AuCl4] + 3 H2O2 + 8 KOH → 2 Au + 3 O2 + 8 KCl + 8 H2O

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

2 AuIII + 6 e- → 2 Au0 (reduction)

6 O-I - 6 e- → 6 O0 (oxidation)

H[AuCl4] is an oxidizing agent, H2O2 is a reducing agent.

Reactants:

  • H[AuCl4]
    • Names: Chloroauric acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Hydrogen tetrachloroaurate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Chlorauric acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: Orange-yellow needle-like crystals | hygroscopic source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
  • H2O2 – Hydrogen peroxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Dioxidane source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Oxidanyl source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Perhydroxic acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: Very light blue color; colorless in solution source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Colourless liquid source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Colorless liquid with a slightly sharp odor. [Note: The pure compound is a crystalline solid below 12°F. Often used in an aqueous solution.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
  • KOH – Potassium hydroxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Caustic potash source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Lye source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Potash lye source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: White solid, deliquescent source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; White hygroscopic solid in various forms source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Odorless, white or slightly yellow lumps, rods, flakes, sticks, or pellets. [Note: May be used as an aqueous solution.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02

Products:

  • Au
    • Names: Gold source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Au source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Element 79 source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Aurum source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07
  • O2
    • Names: Dioxygen source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Oxygen source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Oxygen (liquefied) source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Appearance: Odourless compressed gas source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Liquefied gas. colourless-to-blue extremely cold liquid source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
  • KCl
    • Names: Potassium chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Sylvite source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Muriate of potash source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: White crystalline solid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Colourless hygroscopic crystals source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
  • H2O – Water, oxidane source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Other names: Water (H2O) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen hydroxide (HH or HOH) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: White crystalline solid, almost colorless liquid with a hint of blue, colorless gas source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27