Hydrogen

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Common Misconceptions

3 min read

- Let's bust some of the common misconceptions from this chapter

Is Hydrogen Peroxide an Oxidising or Reducing Agent?
It's easy to get confused whether hydrogen peroxide,

H_{2} O_{2}

is an oxidising or a reducing agent. In some reactions, you learn it as an oxidising agent and in some, it's a reducing agent. So, what exactly is it?
Hydrogen peroxide can act as both an oxidising and a reducing agent depending on the reaction conditions. For example, in acidic solution, it is a strong oxidising agent. When it acts as an oxidising agent, it gets reduced to

H_{2} O

. When it acts as a reducing agent, it gets oxidised to

O_{2}

All Metals React with Hydrogen to Give Metal Hydrides?
Is this statement correct? No, it's not. Only a few reactive metals react with hydrogen to form metal hydrides. For example, when hydrogen gas is passed over heated sodium, then sodium hydride is formed. Most of the metals do not react with hydrogen.
The metals that are placed above hydrogen are more reactive and those placed below hydrogen are less reactive. That means metal hydride will be formed by only those metals which are above hydrogen.

In Hydrogen Peroxide, the Dihedral Angle is Always the Same?
No. It differs in numerical value according to change in states of

H_{2} O_{2}

. The dihedral angle in gas and solid phase varies (image below), even though it has a non-planar structure in both these states.