MCQ Detailed View

The volume strength of a hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) solution is a measure of the amount of oxygen gas it can release under standard conditions. A 10-volume solution specifically means that 1 mL of the solution can liberate 10 mL of oxygen gas (O₂) at standard temperature and pressure (STP).

This concept is widely used in chemistry to express the oxidizing power of hydrogen peroxide. The “volume” in this context refers to the volume of oxygen gas liberated per unit volume of solution. For example, a 20-volume solution would release 20 mL of oxygen from 1 mL of solution, indicating a higher concentration and oxidizing strength.

Hydrogen peroxide decomposes according to the reaction:

2 H₂O₂ → 2 H₂O + O₂

The volume strength allows chemists to calculate the amount of oxygen available for reactions such as bleaching, disinfection, and laboratory oxidations. Understanding the volume strength is essential for accurate stoichiometric calculations and safety precautions, as more concentrated solutions release larger volumes of oxygen rapidly.

This explanation clarifies why option D is correct: the 10-volume solution does not refer to grams, liters, or gram equivalents, but specifically to the volume of O₂ gas released per mL of solution at STP.

The concept is a fundamental aspect of physical chemistry, linking solution concentration, gas volumes, and chemical reactivity, and is widely used in industries and laboratories that handle H₂O₂ solutions for practical applications.