Question

Hydrogen peroxide is a versatile chemical, its uses include bleaching wood pulp and fabrics and substituting for chlorine in water purification. One reason for its versatility is that it can be either an oxidizing or reducing agent. For the following reactions, identify whether hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing or reducing agent.

a) H2O2 (aq) + 2 Fe2+ (aq) + 2 H+ + 2H20 (1) + 2 Fe3+(aq)
b) 5 H2O2 (aq) + 2 MnO4 (aq) + 6 H+ (aq) → 8 H20 (1) + 2 Mn2+ (aq) + 5 O2 (g)

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

a )

H₂O₂ (aq) + 2 Fe²⁺ (aq) + 2 H⁺ = 2H20 (l) + 2 Fe³⁺(aq)

Here oxidation number of Fe is increasing from + 2 to + 3 so it is being oxidized . Hence H₂O₂ is acting as oxidizing agent here .

b )

5 H₂O₂ (aq) + 2 MnO₄⁻¹ (aq) + 6 H⁺ (aq) → 8 H20 (l) + 2 Mn⁺² (aq) + 5O₂ (g)

In this reaction, oxidation number of Mn is reducing from + 7 to + 2 so it is being reduced . Here H₂O₂ is acting as reducing agent .