Question

What is the Lewis dot structure of `"H"_2"O"_2`?

Answer 1

It is simply `H-O-O-H`, a neutral molecule, in which each `O` bears `2` lone pairs of electrons.

Explanation:

There are 14 valence electrons to distribute, 4 of these are conceived to constitute the `H-O` bond, 2 of these the `O-O` bond, and the 8 remaining are the 4 formal lone pairs on the oxygen atoms.

The oxidation state of oxygen in this molecule is `-I`; in fact this is why it is called a `"peroxide"`. Why does `O` bear this formal oxidation state? For contrast, the oxidation of `O` in water is certainly `-II`.