Question

Consider the following statements.
Statement 1: Hydrogen can act as a reducing agent as well as an oxidising agent.
Statement 2: Hydrogen peroxide can never act as a reducing agent.

• A. Only statement 1 is correct.
• B. Only statement 2 is correct.
• C. Both statements are correct.
• D. Both statements are incorrect.

Answer 1

The correct option is A Only statement 1 is correct.

Oxidising agents are substances that tends to oxidise other substances. Some common oxiding agents include sulphuric acid, nitric acid and potassium permanganate.

Similarly, certain substances called reducing agents tends to reduce other substances. Some common reducing agents include carbon, hydrogen sulphide and and carbon monoxide.

Both hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide can act as an oxidising agent as well as a reducing agent.

Hydrogen as oxidising agent ${\text{H}}_2\text{(g)}+\text{2Na}\text{(s)}\to 2\text{NaH}\text{(s)}$

Hydrogen as reducing agent ${\text{H}}_2\text{(g)}+{\text{Cl}}_2\text{(g)}\to 2\text{HCl}\text{(g)}$

Hydrogen peroxide as oxidising agent ${\text{H}}_2{O}_2\text{(l)}+{\text{2H}}^{+}\text{(aq)}+{\text{2e}}^{-}\to 2{\text{H}}_{2}O\text{(l)}$

Hydrogen peroxide as reducing agent
${\text{H}}_2{O}_2\text{(l)}\to {\text{O}}_2\text{(g)}+{\text{2H}}^{+}\text{(aq)}+{\text{2e}}^{-}$