Question

H₂O₂ acts as an oxidizing agent as well as reducing agent. Why?

Answer 1

In H₂O₂, oxygen has -1 oxidation state which lies between maximum (0 or +2 in OF₂). and minimum -2. Therefore, oxygen can be oxidized to O₂ (zero oxidation state) acting as reducing agent or can be reduced to H₂O or OH^- (-2 oxidation state) acting as an oxidizing agent.