Applications
Hydroquinone is used as a reducing agent and finds applications in black and white photographic developers for film and paper along with 4-(methylamino)phenol sulfate (metol). In this application, silver halides are reduced to elemental silver. It acts as a polymerization inhibitor which prevents polymerization of acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, cyanoacrylate and other monomers. It undergoes mild oxidation to convert into parabenzoquinone. It is also used as an intermediate to produce antioxidants for rubber and food.

Solubility
Soluble in water, methanol, ethanol, diethyl ether, acetone, benzene and carbon tetrachloride.

Notes
Air and light sensitive. Incompatible with strong bases and strong oxidizing agents.