Hydrogen Peroxide Correction

Correcting an error in the last video regarding hydrogen peroxide.

I want to make a quick correction

to my second oxidation video.

It was pointed out that I made an error

that you will probably find confusing.

So I had written down hydrogen peroxide.

Because this was one of the situations or the special cases

where oxygen's oxidation state

isn't necessarily minus 2.

So hydrogen peroxide is 2 hydrogens, 2 oxygens.

And it's structure looks like this.

The oxygens are bonded to each other,

and they're each bonded to a hydrogen.

And we know oxygen is really electronegative.

It likes to hog electrons.

And I said that in that video.

And because it hogs electrons,

the hydrogens lose their electron to oxygen,

or at least from the oxidation state point of view.

So they each have a plus 1 oxidation state,

which I did say in that video.

And then I went on and my brain was clearly

-- and this is actually a good point for you to realize

how confusing this can sometimes be

if you're not careful with your work.

I say in the last video,

and obviously oxygen gains an electron.

And then I say and it's oxidation state is plus 1.

Which clearly makes no sense.

If you gain an electron,

that will reduce your oxidation state.

It will reduce that hypothetical charge.

And so your oxidation state is minus 1

in each of these oxygens.

And, of course, this is a special case

because traditionally, oxygen in the case

I always show it with, is in water.

When it takes 2 electrons,

1 from this hydrogen and 1 from that hydrogen,

it normally has an oxidation state of minus 2

and, of course, in this case,

it's plus 1 and plus 1 for the 2 hydrogens.

I think later, when I go back to the molecular formula,

I kind of corrected in my head.

But I want to be very clear to you.

Oxygen does not have an oxidation state of plus 1

in hydrogen peroxide.

It is minus 1.

I said it gained the electrons,

but then my brain obviously heard the word gaining

and wanted to put a plus sign there.

No. It gained an electron that reduces the oxygen.

It makes its oxidation state minus 1 for hydrogen peroxide.

So hydrogen peroxide has

2 hydrogens with a plus 1 oxidation state.

And it has 2 oxygens with a minus 1 oxidation state.

One times 2 minus 1 times 2 is equal to 0,

so we're all cool.