Question

What are the oxidation numbers in the compound ${\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_2$?

Answer 1

Oxidation number:

• “Oxidation number denotes the oxidation state of an element in a compound ascertained according to a set of rules formulated on the basis that electron pair in a covalent bond belongs entirely to a more electronegative element.”

Oxidation numbers in ${\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_2$:

• Hydrogen peroxide carries no charge, it is a neutral compound.
• Hydrogen exists in $+1$ oxidation number. Thus, two hydrogens will have a total of $+2$ oxidation number.
• In the case of Oxygen, the oxidation number of Oxygen in peroxide is $-1$. Thus two oxygen atoms will have a total of $-2$ oxidation number.