Dissolution of Germanium in Aqueous Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

The dissolution of germanium in aqueous hydrogen peroxide of from 3 to 90% H 2 O 2 and p H from 1 to 9 has been studied at temperatures varying from 25° to 90°C. It has been found that dissolution rate remains constant in solutions of 3–30% by weight of H 2 O 2 at low p H, then decreases with increasing H 2 O 2 content. The reaction is highly p H dependent above p H 4, and this p H dependence varies as a function of H 2 O 2 concentration. This indicates that the rate‐controlling step in low and high H 2 O 2 concentration solutions at p H 5 and above may be different. Reaction mechanism to explain this situation is proposed.