Question

${\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_2$ is: ?

• A. an oxidising agent
• B. a reducing agent
• C. both oxidising and reducing agent
• D. None of these

Answer 1

The correct option is C

both oxidising and reducing agent

The explanation for the correct option:

Option (C);

• An oxidizing agent is a reactant in the chemical reaction that aids in oxidation and reduces itself.
• Similarly, a reducing agent is known to be a substance that helps in reduction and itself gets oxidized in a chemical reaction.
• Hydrogen peroxide can act as both an oxidizing agent and a reducing agent. which can be shown by the reaction;

$\underset{(\mathrm{Hydrogen}\mathrm{peroxide})}{2{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}\to \underset{\left(\mathrm{Water}\right)}{2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Oxygen}\right)}{{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$

The explanation for incorrect options:

Option (A);

• Hydrogen peroxide acts as both oxidizing and reducing agent in chemical reactions.
• But as the option states, hydrogen peroxide acts as an oxidizing agent only, which is partially correct.

Option (B);

• Not only hydrogen peroxide can act as a reducing agent by reducing other substances and oxidizing itself, but also it can act as an oxidizing agent as well.
• But the option given here doesn't completely coincide with the correct concept.

Hence, ${\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_2$ acts as: both oxidizing and reducing agent (Option C).