Question

Which of the following acts as both reducing and oxidising agents?

• A. $\text{H}_{2}\text{S}\text{O}_{4}$
• B. $\text{H}\text{N}\text{O}_{3}$
• C. $\text{H}_{2}\text{O}_{2}$
• D. $\text{K}\text{M}\text{n}\text{O}_{4}$

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

In $\left(\right.\text{a}\left.\right),$ $\left(\right.\text{b}\left.\right)$ and $\left(\text{d}\right);$ Sulphur, nitrogen and Mn are in their maximum oxidation state, so they can only be reduced and thus can act only as oxidising agent.

$\left(\right.\text{c}\left.\right)$ only $\text{H}_{2}\text{O}_{2}$ will act as both.

(i) In case of oxidising agent

$\text{H}_{2}\text{O}_{2}$ itself get reduced:

e.g.,

(ii) In case of reducing agent $\text{H}_{2}\text{O}_{2}$ itself get oxidise