question_answer 1)

  Rohan heard that instructions were given to the laboratory attendant to store a particular chemical, i.e., to keep it in a dark room, add some urea to it and keep it away from dust. This chemical acts as an oxidising as well as a reducing agent in both acidic and alkaline media. This chemical is important for use in pollution control treatment of domestic and industrial effluents. (i) Write the name of this compound. (ii) Explain why such precautions are taken for storing the chemical?

Answer:

  (i) \[{{H}_{2}}{{O}_{2}}\] (Hydrogen peroxide) (ii) The following precautions must be taken while storing hydrogen peroxide. It must be kept in wax lined coloured bottles because the rough glass surface, light and dust particles are responsible for its decomposition. (b) A small amount of negative catalyst such as urea, glycerol, phosphoric acid, etc., is generally added which retards its decomposition.