In the reaction H₂O₂ + Cl₂ → 2HCl + O₂, H₂O₂ acts as:

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

RRB ALP Previous Paper 4 (Held On: 10 Aug 2018 Shift 2)

Answer 1

The correct answer is A reducing agent.

Key Points

F3 Savita Teaching 21-12-23 D6

Hydrogen peroxide H₂O₂ is acting as a reducing agent here.
A reducing agent is a compound that oxidises itself and reduces the other compound in a chemical reaction.
A reducing agent will lose electrons in a chemical reaction, and thus get oxidized.
Here, the charge on Chlorine (Cl) is earlier 0, but after reaction, the charge on each Cl atom is -1, this shows that it has been reduced. Thus, Hydrogen peroxide has worked as a reducing agent.
Also, in terms of hydrogen, adding hydrogen is termed as reduction, whereas removing it is termed as oxidation. Since hydrogen is added to chlorine, chlorine is reducing, and hence we can say that Hydrogen peroxide has worked as a reducing agent.