Question

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

Answer 1

• Reactions involving oxidizing actions are:

1. \[\ce{2Fe^{2+} + 2H^+ +H2O2 -> 2Fe^{3+} + 2H2O}\]
2. \[\ce{Mn^{2+} + H2O2 -> Mn^{4+} + 2OH-}\]
3. \[\ce{PbS + 4H2O2 -> PbSO4 + 4H2O}\]
4. \[\ce{2Fe^{2+} + H2O2 -> 2Fe^{3+} + 2OH-}\]

• As a reducing agent:

1. \[\ce{I2 + H2O2 + 2OH– -> 2I– + 2 H2O + O2}\]
2. \[\ce{2MnO^-_4 + 6H+ + 5H2O2 -> 2Mn^{2+} + 8H2O + 5O2}\]
3. \[\ce{HOCl + H2O2 -> H3O+ + Cl- + O2}\]
4. \[\ce{2MnO^-_4 + 3H2O2 -> 2MnO2 + 3O2 + 2H2O + 2OH-}\]