Final answer:
H₂O and H₂O₂ are compounds containing hydrogen and oxygen. H₂O, water, is vital for life and results from hydrogen and oxygen reacting in a 2:1 ratio. H₂O₂, hydrogen peroxide, is used as a disinfectant and formed with a 1:1 ratio of hydrogen to oxygen.
Step-by-step explanation:
H₂O (water) and H₂O₂ (hydrogen peroxide) are both compounds made up of hydrogen and oxygen, but with different properties and molecular structures. Water is composed of two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to one oxygen atom, resulting in the formula H₂O. This compound is essential for life and is the most abundant form of hydrogen on the planet. When hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) react, they typically do so in a 2:1 ratio, forming water as a product, as seen in the balanced chemical equation 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O.
Hydrogen peroxide, on the other hand, has the formula H₂O₂, where two hydrogen atoms are bonded to two oxygen atoms. This compound is known for its use as a disinfectant and bleaching agent. Its molecular structure results in different chemical properties compared to water. The H : O ratio in hydrogen peroxide is 1 : 1, and unlike the formation of water, the oxygen atoms in H₂O₂ are connected by a bond, making it less stable and a strong oxidizing agent.