Question

Give reasons in two or three sentences only for the following :

"Hydrogen peroxide acts as an oxidizing as well as a reducing agent."

Answer 1

In H₂O₂ , oxidation number of oxygen is - 1 , on the basis of electronic configuration, oxidation number of oxygen is -2 or + 2.

In H₂O₂, oxidation number of oxygen -1, so it can be increased upto +2 and decreased upto -2. Hence, due to this reason it acts as reducing and oxidising agents.

Reducing agent : H₂O₂  → 2H⁺ + O₂ + 2e^-

Oxidising agent (i) Acidic medium

H₂O₂  → 2H⁺  + 2e^- →  2H₂O

 (ii) Basic medium  H₂O₂ + 2e^-  → 2OH^-