In an experiment testing catalyst influence on reaction, is NaOH a reactant or a catalyst? [closed]








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I have recently completed an experiment with hydrogen peroxide (5%), 0.1M KI and 1M NaOH.


Is the sodium hydroxide a reactant or a catalyst in this experiment?




In basic solution the half reactions are:


Reduction: 


$\ce{H2O2 + 2 e- -> 2 OH-}$


Oxidation: 


$\ce{I- + 6 OH- -> IO3- + 3 H2O + 6 e-}$


So the overall reaction is


$\ce{3 H2O2 + I- -> IO3- + 3 H2O}$


thus $\ce{OH-}$ is overall neither a reactant nor a product. Hence it is either a catalyst, an inhibitor, or a spectator ion. 


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