Hydrogen peroxide reacts with iodine in basic medium to give :

Solution

Chemistry ma’am · 3 steps

In basic medium, peroxide gives up its oxygen as O₂ and turns iodine into iodide.

1. Two roles of peroxide. In H₂O₂, oxygen is at -1, between -2 (in H₂O) and 0 (in O₂). So it can act as an oxidising agent or a reducing agent, depending on its partner.
2. Against iodine. I₂ is a mild oxidising agent, and the base pulls H⁺ off the peroxide. Here H₂O₂ is oxidised to O₂ (O goes from -1 to 0). Each I₂ takes the 2 electrons it releases and becomes 2I⁻ (I goes from 0 to -1).

   H₂O₂ + I₂ + 2OH⁻ → 2I⁻ + O₂ + 2H₂O

3. So. Iodine is reduced, so the product is iodide, I⁻: option (c). Check the balance: charge is -2 on both sides, and 2 electrons are lost and 2 gained.

The idea to keep. H₂O₂ is not always an oxidant. In basic medium with an oxidant like I₂, MnO₄⁻ or Cl₂, it acts as a reductant and gives off O₂, so the partner goes down in oxidation state.

Answer from the NTA final answer key. Solution by PrepWiser.