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Hydrogen

Question
CBSEENCH11006968

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).
PbO with White below space plus space straight H subscript 2 straight S space space rightwards arrow space space space PbS with Black below space plus space straight H subscript 2 straight O
Now, when the painting is dipped in a dilute solution of H2O2 for some time, lead sulphide is slowly oxidised to white lead sulphate.
PbS space plus space 4 straight H subscript 2 straight O subscript 2 space space rightwards arrow space space space PbSO subscript 4 space plus space 4 straight H subscript 2 straight O
Thus the colour of lead painting is restored.