Question

Give an example of a compound which acts as both oxidising and reducing agents.

Answer 1

Oxidising agent:-

1. A chemical species that tend to oxidize other substances are called an oxidising agent.
2. They do so by making them lose electrons, this results in an increase in the oxidation state of the substance.
3. Some common examples of oxidising agents are: Chlorine$\left(\mathrm{Cl}\right)$, Oxygen$\left(\mathrm{O}\right)$

Reducing agent:-

1. The substance which loses electrons to other substances in a redox reaction is called a reducing agent
2. They do so by getting oxidized to a higher oxidation state.
3. Some common examples of reducing agents are: Iron$\left(\mathrm{Fe}\right)$, Aluminium$\left(\mathrm{Al}\right)$

Example of compound which acts as both oxidising and reducing agents:-

1. Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound having a molecular formula of ${\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_2$.
2. Here, the oxidation state of oxygen is $-1$.
3. As a result, it can effectively increase or even decrease its oxidation state accordingly.
4. Hence hydrogen peroxide acts as an oxidising and reducing agent both.

Therefore, hydrogen peroxide (${\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_2$) acts as both oxidising and reducing agent.