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Peroxide
 
 
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A peroxide is a compound containing an oxygen
Oxygen

Oxygen no O2 produced; 2) O2 produced, but absorbed in oceans & seabed rock; 3) O2 starts to gas out of the oceans, but is absorbed by land surfaces and formation of ozone layer; 4-5) O2 sinks filled and the gas accumulates]]...
-oxygen single bond
Chemical bond

A chemical bond is the physical process responsible for the attractive interactions between atoms and molecules, and that which confers stability to diatomic and polyatomic chemical compounds....
. The simplest stable peroxide is hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a very pale blue liquid which appears colorless in a dilute solution, slightly more viscous than water. It is a weak acid....
. Superoxide
Superoxide

Superoxide is the anion O2−. It is important as the product of the one-electron reduction of dioxygen, which occurs widely in nature....
s, dioxygenyl
Dioxygenyl

The dioxygenyl ion, O2+, is a rarely-encountered oxycation in which both oxygen atoms have an oxidation state of +?. It is formally derived from oxygen by the removal of an electron:The energy change for this process is called the ionization energy of the oxygen molecule....
s, ozone
Ozone

Ozone or trioxygen is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic O2....
s and ozonide
Ozonide

Ozonide is an unstable, reactive polyatomic ion anion O3−, derived from ozone, or an organic compound similar to organic peroxide formed by a reaction of ozone with an unsaturated compound....
s compound are considered separately.

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Organic chemistry

Organic chemistry is a discipline within chemistry which involves the science study of the structure, properties, composition, chemical reaction, and preparation of chemical compounds that contain carbon....
, peroxide is a specific functional group
Functional group

In organic chemistry, functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules....
 or a molecule containing an oxygen-oxygen single bond (R-O-O-R'). When the other oxygen bears a hydrogen, it is called a hydroperoxide (R-O-O-H). The radical HOO· is known as hydroperoxide radical, and is thought to be involved in combustion
Combustion

Combustion or burning is a complex sequence of exothermic chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat or both heat and light in the form of either a glow or flames, appearance of light flickering....
 of hydrocarbons in air. Organic peroxides tend to decompose easily to free radicals of the form:

RO·


This makes them useful as catalysts for some types of polymerisation, such as the polyester
Polyester

Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate ....
 resin
Resin

Resin is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly Pinophyta. It is valued for its chemical constituents and uses, such as varnishes and adhesives, as an important source of raw materials for organic synthesis, or for incense and perfume....
s used in glass-reinforced plastic
Glass-reinforced plastic

Glass-reinforced plastic is a composite material or fiber-reinforced plastic made of a plastic reinforced by fine glass fibres made of glass....
s.






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A peroxide is a compound containing an oxygen
Oxygen

Oxygen no O2 produced; 2) O2 produced, but absorbed in oceans & seabed rock; 3) O2 starts to gas out of the oceans, but is absorbed by land surfaces and formation of ozone layer; 4-5) O2 sinks filled and the gas accumulates]]...
-oxygen single bond
Chemical bond

A chemical bond is the physical process responsible for the attractive interactions between atoms and molecules, and that which confers stability to diatomic and polyatomic chemical compounds....
. The simplest stable peroxide is hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a very pale blue liquid which appears colorless in a dilute solution, slightly more viscous than water. It is a weak acid....
. Superoxide
Superoxide

Superoxide is the anion O2−. It is important as the product of the one-electron reduction of dioxygen, which occurs widely in nature....
s, dioxygenyl
Dioxygenyl

The dioxygenyl ion, O2+, is a rarely-encountered oxycation in which both oxygen atoms have an oxidation state of +?. It is formally derived from oxygen by the removal of an electron:The energy change for this process is called the ionization energy of the oxygen molecule....
s, ozone
Ozone

Ozone or trioxygen is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic O2....
s and ozonide
Ozonide

Ozonide is an unstable, reactive polyatomic ion anion O3−, derived from ozone, or an organic compound similar to organic peroxide formed by a reaction of ozone with an unsaturated compound....
s compound are considered separately.

Organic chemistry

In organic chemistry
Organic chemistry

Organic chemistry is a discipline within chemistry which involves the science study of the structure, properties, composition, chemical reaction, and preparation of chemical compounds that contain carbon....
, peroxide is a specific functional group
Functional group

In organic chemistry, functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules....
 or a molecule containing an oxygen-oxygen single bond (R-O-O-R'). When the other oxygen bears a hydrogen, it is called a hydroperoxide (R-O-O-H). The radical HOO· is known as hydroperoxide radical, and is thought to be involved in combustion
Combustion

Combustion or burning is a complex sequence of exothermic chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat or both heat and light in the form of either a glow or flames, appearance of light flickering....
 of hydrocarbons in air. Organic peroxides tend to decompose easily to free radicals of the form:

RO·


This makes them useful as catalysts for some types of polymerisation, such as the polyester
Polyester

Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate ....
 resin
Resin

Resin is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly Pinophyta. It is valued for its chemical constituents and uses, such as varnishes and adhesives, as an important source of raw materials for organic synthesis, or for incense and perfume....
s used in glass-reinforced plastic
Glass-reinforced plastic

Glass-reinforced plastic is a composite material or fiber-reinforced plastic made of a plastic reinforced by fine glass fibres made of glass....
s. MEKP (methyl ethyl ketone peroxide
Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide

Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide is an organic peroxide, a high explosive similar to acetone peroxide. MEKP is a colorless, oily liquid whereas acetone peroxide is a white powder at Standard conditions for temperature and pressure; MEKP is slightly less sensitive to shock and temperature, and more stable in storage....
) is commonly used for this purpose.

However, the same property also means that organic peroxides can accidentally initiate explosive polymerization in materials with unsaturated chemical bond
Chemical bond

A chemical bond is the physical process responsible for the attractive interactions between atoms and molecules, and that which confers stability to diatomic and polyatomic chemical compounds....
s. Since peroxides can form spontaneously in some materials, some caution must be exercised with such "peroxide-forming materials." Triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and hexamethylene triperoxide diamine
Hexamethylene triperoxide diamine

Hexamethylene triperoxide diamine is ahigh explosive organic compound, first synthesised in 1885 by Legler. The theorised structure lent itself well to acting as an initiating, or primary explosive....
 are explosive organic peroxide compounds; TATP may be formed accidentally as a waste product in some reactions. In addition, many liquid ether
Ether

Ether is a class of organic compounds which contain an ether functional group ? an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups ? of general formula R?O?R....
s in the presence of air
AIR

Air is the part of Earth's atmosphere that humans breath and as such Air .Air may also refer to:...
, light, and metal
Metal

In chemistry, a metal is a chemical element whose atoms readily lose electrons to form positive ions , and form metallic bonds between other metal atoms and ionic bonds between nonmetal atoms....
 slowly (over a period of months) form ether peroxides (e.g., diethyl ether peroxide
Diethyl ether peroxide

Diethyl ether peroxides are a class of organic peroxides that slowly form in diethyl ether upon storage under air, light, or in the presence of metal by autoxidation....
), which are extremely unstable. As a consequence, it is recommended that ether be stored over potassium hydroxide, which not only destroys peroxides but also acts as a powerful desiccant
Desiccation

Desiccation is the state of extreme dryness, or the process of extreme drying. A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains such a state in its local vicinity in a moderately-well sealed container....
. Extreme care must be taken with samples showing signs of crystal growth or precipitates.

TATP is an easily synthesized, inexpensive, explosive compound that is difficult to detect by normal screening methods. Consequently, it is an explosive favored by terrorists. TATP was used in the 2005 London Underground bombings and the 2001 "shoe bomber." In 2002, a simple mass spectroscopy screening method was developed.

Inorganic chemistry

In inorganic chemistry
Inorganic chemistry

Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the properties and behavior of inorganic compounds. This field covers all chemical compounds except the myriad organic compounds , which are the subjects of organic chemistry....
, peroxide is the anion O22−. It is highly basic, and present in ionic compounds. Pure peroxides (containing only cations and the peroxide anions) are usually formed by burning alkali metal
Alkali metal

The alkali metals are a chemical series of chemical elements comprising Periodic table group of the periodic table: lithium , sodium , potassium , rubidium , caesium , and francium ....
s or alkaline earth metal
Alkaline earth metal

The alkaline earth metals are a chemical series of chemical element comprising Periodic table group of the periodic table: beryllium , magnesium , calcium , strontium , barium and radium ....
s in air
AIR

Air is the part of Earth's atmosphere that humans breath and as such Air .Air may also refer to:...
 or oxygen
Oxygen

Oxygen no O2 produced; 2) O2 produced, but absorbed in oceans & seabed rock; 3) O2 starts to gas out of the oceans, but is absorbed by land surfaces and formation of ozone layer; 4-5) O2 sinks filled and the gas accumulates]]...
. Sodium peroxide
Sodium peroxide

Sodium peroxide, Na2O2, is the normal product when sodium is burned. It is a strong oxidizer....
 Na2O2 is a typical example.

The peroxide ion contains two electron
Electron

The electron is a subatomic particle that carries a negative electric charge. It has elementary particle and is believed to be a point particle....
s more than the oxygen molecule. These two electrons, according to the molecular orbital
Molecular orbital

In chemistry, a molecular orbital is a mathematical function that describes the wave-like behavior of an electron in a molecule. This function can be used to calculate chemical and physical properties such as the probability of finding an electron in any specific region....
 theory, complete the two p* antibonding orbitals. This has as result a weakening of the bond strength
Bond strength

In chemistry, bond strength is measured between two atoms joined in a chemical bond . It is the degree to which each atom linked to a central atom contributes to the valency of this central atom....
 of the peroxide ion and a greater length for the bond O-O : Li2O2 130 pm to BaO2 147 pm. Furthermore, the peroxide ion is diamagnetic.

The peroxides of the alkali metals and Ca, Sr and Ba are ionic
Ion

An ion is an atom or molecule which has lost or gained one or more electrons, giving it a positive or negative electrical charge. According to the Bohr_model this will be from or in the outer shield 'n'....
. The peroxides of a number of electropositive metals such as Mg, the lanthanides and the uranyl-ion show an intermediary character, between ionic and covalent. The peroxides of metals such as Zn, Cd and Hg are mainly covalent.

Peroxides are powerful oxidizers
Oxidizing agent

An oxidizing agent can be defined as either:#a chemical compound that readily transfers oxygen atoms, or#a substance that gains electrons in a redox chemical reaction...
, and usually fairly unstable. Ionic peroxides react with water and diluted acids to form hydrogen peroxide. Organic compounds are oxidized to carbonates, even at normal temperatures. Sodium peroxide is a powerful oxidator of metals, such as iron.

The oxide
Oxide

An oxide is a chemical compound contaning at least one oxygen atom as well as at least one other element. Most of the Earth's crust consists of oxides....
s, peroxides and superoxide
Superoxide

Superoxide is the anion O2−. It is important as the product of the one-electron reduction of dioxygen, which occurs widely in nature....
s are closely related, forming a chain of oxygen ions of progressively higher oxidation number
Oxidation number

The oxidation number of a central atom in a complex is the charge that it would have if all the ligands were removed along with the electron pairs that were shared with the central atom....
.

Barium peroxide
Barium peroxide

Barium peroxide is the chemical compound with the chemical formula Bariumperoxide. This grey-white solid is one of the most common inorganic peroxides....
 is used in pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics

Pyrotechnics is the science of materials capable of undergoing self-contained and self-sustained exothermic chemical reactions for the production of heat, light, gas, smoke and/or sound....
 and tracer ammunition
Tracer ammunition

Tracer ammunition are special bullets that are modified to accept a small pyrotechnic charge in their base. Ignited upon firing, the composition burns very brightly, making the projectile visible to the naked eye....
, and was once used in the manufacture of hydrogen peroxide. Sodium peroxide
Sodium peroxide

Sodium peroxide, Na2O2, is the normal product when sodium is burned. It is a strong oxidizer....
 is used as a carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalent bond to a single carbon atom. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and exists in Earth's atmosphere in this state....
 absorber and oxygen regenerator (e.g. in some submarine
Submarine

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below water. It differs from a submersible, which has only limited underwater capability....
s), through the reaction:

2Na2O2 + 2CO2 ? 2Na2CO3 + O2


See also

  • catalase
    Catalase

    Catalase is a common enzyme found in nearly all living organisms which are exposed to oxygen, where it functions to catalyst the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen....
  • oxygen
    Oxygen

    Oxygen no O2 produced; 2) O2 produced, but absorbed in oceans & seabed rock; 3) O2 starts to gas out of the oceans, but is absorbed by land surfaces and formation of ozone layer; 4-5) O2 sinks filled and the gas accumulates]]...
  • ozone
    Ozone

    Ozone or trioxygen is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic O2....
  • peroxidases
  • hydrogen peroxide
    Hydrogen peroxide

    Hydrogen peroxide is a very pale blue liquid which appears colorless in a dilute solution, slightly more viscous than water. It is a weak acid....
  • carbamide peroxide
    Carbamide peroxide

    Carbamide peroxide, also called urea peroxide, urea hydrogen peroxide, and percarbamide, is an oxidising agent, consisting of hydrogen peroxide Chemical compound with urea....
  • sodium percarbonate
    Sodium percarbonate

    Sodium percarbonate is a white crystalline water-soluble chemical compound of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide.It is an oxidizing agent and ingredient in a number of home and laundry detergent products....
  • calcium peroxide
    Calcium peroxide

    Calcium peroxide is a solid peroxide with a white or yellowish color. For all practical purposes calcium peroxide is insoluble in water but will dissolve in acid to form hydrogen peroxide....
  • magnesium peroxide
    Magnesium peroxide

    Magnesium peroxide is a fine powder peroxide with a white to white-off color. It is similar to calcium peroxide because magnesium peroxide also releases oxygen by breaking down at a controlled rate with a hydrous fluid....
  • potassium monopersulfate
  • sodium perborate monohydrate
  • ozonide
    Ozonide

    Ozonide is an unstable, reactive polyatomic ion anion O3−, derived from ozone, or an organic compound similar to organic peroxide formed by a reaction of ozone with an unsaturated compound....
    , O3−
  • superoxide
    Superoxide

    Superoxide is the anion O2−. It is important as the product of the one-electron reduction of dioxygen, which occurs widely in nature....
    , O2−
  • oxide
    Oxide

    An oxide is a chemical compound contaning at least one oxygen atom as well as at least one other element. Most of the Earth's crust consists of oxides....
    , O2−
  • dioxygenyl
    Dioxygenyl

    The dioxygenyl ion, O2+, is a rarely-encountered oxycation in which both oxygen atoms have an oxidation state of +?. It is formally derived from oxygen by the removal of an electron:The energy change for this process is called the ionization energy of the oxygen molecule....
    , O2+