While sulphur dioxide and hydrogen peroxide can act as oxidising as well as reducing agents in their reactions,

In sulphur dioxide (SO2), the oxidation number (O.N.) of S is +4 and the range of the O.N. that S can have is from +6 to –2.

Therefore, SO2 can act as an oxidising as well as a reducing agent.

In hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the O.N. of O is –1 and the range of the O.N. that O can have is from 0 to –2. O can sometimes also attain the oxidation numbers +1 and +2. Hence, H2O2 can act as an oxidising as well as a reducing agent.

In ozone (O3), the O.N. of O is zero and the range of the O.N. that O can have is from 0 to –2. Therefore, the O.N. of O can only decrease in this case. Hence, O3 acts only as an oxidant.

In nitric acid (HNO3), the O.N. of N is +5 and the range of the O.N. that N can have is from +5 to –3. Therefore, the O.N. of N can only decrease in this case. Hence, HNO3 acts only as an oxidant.