Answer to Question #164690 in General Chemistry for David Otunga

Question

Explain why the formula of hydrogen peroxide cannot also represent the chemical formula for water

Answer 1

This is in fact a disproportionation reaction in that oxygen in peroxide (−

I

 oxidation state) has given water (−

I

I

 oxidation state for oxygen) and zerovalent oxygen gas (0

 oxidation state for oxygen).