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Superoxide

When potassium is heated with oxygen a white solid K2O and an orange-yellow compound KO2 are formed. In the superoxide ion each oxygen has an oxidation number of -½.The electron gained from the potassium is shared between the two atoms so they do not have full outer shells.K2O2 is also formed.

Superoxide is used to remove carbon dioxide and replace with oxygen in spacecraft.

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Specification: AQA Chemistry (7404), AS-level, 3.1.7 Oxidation, reduction and redox equations. Topic: Oxidation and Reduction.

Key terms in this lesson

Oxidation
The addition of oxygen, the removal of hydrogen, the loss of electrons, or an increase in oxidation number.
Oxidation number
A number that represents the number of electrons an atom has lost or gained, or would do if the compound were fully ionic.

More in Oxidation and Reduction

All 15 lessons in Oxidation and Reduction · All AQA AS-level Chemistry topics