H₂O and H₂O₂ are chemical compounds that consist of hydrogen and oxygen, but they have different properties and uses:
H₂O: This is water. It is a polar molecule consisting of two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to a single oxygen atom. Water is essential for all known forms of life and has many unique properties due to its hydrogen bonding, including being a universal solvent, having a high specific heat capacity, and being one of the few substances that is less dense in solid form (ice) than in liquid form.
H₂O₂: This is hydrogen peroxide. It's a chemical with the formula H-O-O-H. Hydrogen peroxide is a colorless liquid that appears similar to water but has different chemical properties. It is commonly used as a disinfectant, bleach, or an oxidizer in various industrial and consumer applications.
The difference between the two lies in the number of oxygen atoms; water has one oxygen atom, while hydrogen peroxide has two, which significantly influences their chemical reactivities and uses.