What is a #"peroxide linkage"#?

1 Answer
anor277
Sep 5, 2017

Well a peroxide is an #O-O# linkage.......

Explanation:

Of which the simplest compound is #H-O-O-H#, hydrogen peroxide. Oxygen is here in a #stackrel(-I)O# instead of its usual #stackrel(-II)O# or #stackrel(0)O# oxidation states.

And super-oxide is contains the #O_2^-# ion, #""^(-)O-dotO#, with formal oxidation states of #stackrel(-I)O# and #stackrel(0)O#.

When superoxide salts react with water they undergo disproportionation to give water, and oxygen gas....and firefighters (for instance) use this as a portable oxygen supply.....

#4O_2^(-)+2H_2O rarr 3O_2(g)uarr+4HO^-#

Superoxide is commonly supplied as its potassium salt, #K^(+)O_2^-#, #"potassium superoxide"#.

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