Which chemical disinfectant can also work as a reducing agent at certain conditions?

Hydrogen peroxide is indeed a chemical disinfectant that can also function as a reducing agent under specific conditions. Its ability to act as a reducing agent is primarily due to the presence of its peroxide bond (–O–O–). In chemical reactions, hydrogen peroxide can donate electrons to various substrates, thereby reducing them.

This property is significant in water treatment processes, where hydrogen peroxide is used for disinfection, oxidation of pollutants, and removal of organic compounds. In contrast, other disinfectants like chlorine, iodine, and ozone primarily serve as oxidizing agents rather than reducing agents. Chlorine and iodine work effectively by oxidizing pathogens and organic matter, while ozone, being a powerful oxidizer, is used extensively for disinfection but does not exhibit reducing properties like hydrogen peroxide does. The dual functionality of hydrogen peroxide in disinfection and as a reducing agent makes it unique among the options provided.