Question

Illustrate oxidising, reducing and acidic properties of hydrogen peroxide with equations.

Answer 1

Hydrogen peroxide can act oxidising agent and reducing agent in both acidic and basic medium.

(a) Oxidising action in acidid medium:

\[\ce{2Fe^{2+} + 2H^{+} + H2O2 -> 2Fe^{3+} + 2H2O}\]

(b) Reducing action in acidic medium:

\[\ce{2MnO^{-}4 + 6H^{+} + 5H2O2 -> 2Mn^{2+} + 8H2O + 5H2}\]

\[\ce{HOCl + H2O2 -> H3O^{-} + Cl- + O2}\]

(c) Oxidising action in basic medium:

\[\ce{2Fe^{2+} + H2O2 -> 2Fe^{3+} + 2OH-}\]

\[\ce{Mn^{2-} + H2O2 -> Mn^{4-} + 2OH-}\]

(d) Reduction action in basic medium:

\[\ce{I2 + H2O2 + 2OH- -> 2I- + 2H2O + O2}\]

\[\ce{2MnO^{-}4 + 3H2O2 ->  2MnO2 + 3O2 + 2H2O + 2OH-}\]