Redox reaction.. oxidised/reduced species??

Question

2H2O2 (aq) --> 2H2O (l) + O2 (g)

which species is oxidised and what is reduced?

I think the Oxygen is the oxidised species but i do not really understand if this is correct/why.

any explanation will be of great assistance thank-you.

Answer 1

oxygen is oxidised as it goes from -4 to 0 (elements have an oxidiation state of zero remember?), thus its oxidiesed and acts as a reducing agent. plus rembere OIL RIG, as Oxidation Is Loss and Reduction Is the Gain of electrons. and if something is oxidised then its a reducing agent and vice versa for reduction. obviously hydrogen must be reduced then but lemme try to work that one out too... Hydrogen goes from +2 to +2, so nothing happens, so nothings reduced i guess...

Answer 2

On the left-hand side, H has a state of 1+, and O has a state of 1-.

On the right-hand side, H has a state of 1+ and O has a state of 2- and 0. Thus, O is both oxidized and reduced: oxidized because of the change from 1- to 0, and reduced because of the change from 1- to 2-.