Question

What is the `"hydroperoxyl radical"`?

Answer 1

We can look at peroxides, i.e. `H-O-O-H`............

Explanation:

The oxidation state of oxygen in peroxides is clearly `O^(-I)`. The `O-O` bond is relatively long and weak, and this bond may be cleaved to form NEUTRAL hydroperoxide radicals according to the following equation:

`H-O-O-H rarr 2HO*`

Each oxygen is neutral as there are 8 electrons associated with the atom: 2 inner core electrons; 1 electron from the `O-H` bond (the 2 electrons in the bond are conceived to be shared); one lone electron; and 4 electrons on the oxygen lone pairs.

What is the molecular structure of `"hydrogen peroxide?"`

Of course, the oxygen molecules we are breathing now is conceived to have non-polar covalent bonds between them: `1xxsigma` bond, with electrons density between the oxygen nuclei; and `1xxpi` bond, with electron density above and below the plane of the `sigma` bond.