What is the Lewis dot structure of "H"_2"O"_2?

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 13, 2016

It is simply H-O-O-H, a neutral molecule, in which each O bears 2 lone pairs of electrons.

Explanation:

There are 14 valence electrons to distribute, 4 of these are conceived to constitute the H-O bond, 2 of these the O-O bond, and the 8 remaining are the 4 formal lone pairs on the oxygen atoms.

The oxidation state of oxygen in this molecule is -I; in fact this is why it is called a "peroxide". Why does O bear this formal oxidation state? For contrast, the oxidation of O in water is certainly -II.

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