Question

How does hydrogen peroxide act as oxidising and reducing agent?

Answer 1

Oxygen have 6 electron in its valence shell.Because of its high electronegativity it gains electron only.In nature oxygen exist as O₂ with oxidation state 0. In H₂O₂ Oxygen is in -1 oxidation state it can loose one electron(will be zero oxidation state as in O2) as well as gain one electron (oxidation state will be-2 as in oxides) hence can work as both oxidizing as well as reducing agent.