Why is Hydrogen peroxide H2O2?

Question

Hydrogen peroxide is H2O2. But when we write the chemical formula, why we are not cancelling the 2 of H2 and 2 of O2?

Answer 1

bcz the numbers show the numbers of atoms of that element in one molecule of the substance.

Answer 2

The peroxide ion is O2^2-.  It is a "diatomic ion".  Oxygen with the -1 oxidation state only occurs when it is bonded to a second oxygen atom to form O2 with a net negative two charge.

Since O2^2- has a fixed formula then two hydrogens, each with a +1, are required to combine with it making H2O2.

We can therefore say that HO does not exist, but H2O2 does.

Answer 3

Chemical notation is not like maths where you can cancel out terms.  The numbers show the numbers of atoms of that element in one molecule of the substance.  H2O2 and HO are completely different things.

Answer 4

For that you need the chart of charges. When oxygen is paired up with hydrogen for peroxides the charge of oxygen is -2 and that of hydrogen is +2 instead of +1

Answer 5

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