Question

Write chemical reactions to justify that hydrogen peroxide can function as an oxidizing as well as reducing agent.

Answer 1

Hydrogen peroxide, $H_2{O}_2$ acts as an oxidizing as well as a reducing agent in both acidic and alkaline media.
Reactions involving oxidizing actions are:
(1) $2F{e}^{2+}+2H^{+}+H_2{O}_2\to 2F{e}^{3+}+2H_{2}O$
(2) $M{n}^{2+}+H_2{O}_2\to M{n}^{4+}+2O{H}^{-}$
(3) $PbS+4H_2{O}_2\to PbS{O}_4+4H_{2}O$
(4) $2F{e}^{2+}+H_2{O}_2\to 2F{e}^{3+}+2O{H}^{-}$
Reactions involving reduction actions are:
(1) $2Mn{O}_4^{-}+6H^{+}+5H_2{O}_2\to 2M{n}^{2+}+8H_{2}O+5O_2$
(2) $I_2+H_2{O}_2+2O{H}^{-}\to 2I^{-}+2H_{2}O+O_2$
(3) $HOCl+H_2{O}_2\to H_3{O}^{+}+C{l}^{-}+O_2$