Question
Hydrogen peroxide is used to restore the colour of old oil paintings containing lead oxide. Write a balanced equation for the reaction that takes place in this process.
Solution
When an oil painting is constantly exposed to the atmosphere, the traces of hydrogen sulphide gas present in the atmosphere slowly blackens the painting by converting lead oxide (white) to lead sulphide (black).
Now, when the painting is dipped in a dilute solution of H2O2 for some time, lead sulphide is slowly oxidised to white lead sulphate.
Thus the colour of lead painting is restored.