# Singlet Oxygen

**URL:** <https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/singlet-oxygen/3476>\
**Category:** Tracking with Closeups\
**Tags:** chemistry, oxygen, singlet-oxygen, chemical-laser\
**Created:** [20 July 2023 11:43 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/singlet-oxygen/3476 "2023-07-20T11:43:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/user_avatar/scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/johnwalker/32/17415_2.png) [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\
**Post date:** [20 July 2023 11:43 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/singlet-oxygen/3476/1 "2023-07-20T11:43:33Z")

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[![](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/uploads/default/original/2X/3/3d45cc0032f7555ae30fccf85d625d23c65057aa.jpeg "Singlet Oxygen Is Scary!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_7VTVkhrPU)

Here is more about [singlet oxygen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singlet_oxygen), a fiercely powerful oxidiser: compared to this stuff, the usual diatomic oxygen is a pussy cat. It’s produced, among other ways, by the decomposition of [hydrogen peroxide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_peroxide), which is why the high-test version of the stuff (as opposed to the 3% solution you get at the drug store) is so nasty.

Here are further details on the [Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_YAL-1), which used an [oxygen-iodine laser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_oxygen_iodine_laser) to produce a megawatt beam to shoot down tactical ballistic missiles while in the boost phase.