What are peroxides?

Peroxides they are binary compounds, that is, formed by just two chemical elements. One of these elements is oxygen, and the other is one of the following elements:

• Silver (Ag)

• Hydrogen (H)

• Zinc (Zn)

• Alkali metals (Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra)

• alkaline earth metals (Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr)

US peroxides, oxygen always presents NOX equal to -1 and is the most electronegative element.

Features

• They are ionic compounds, with the exception of hydrogen peroxide;

• They are presented in solid state at room temperature, with the exception of the peroxide of hydrogen, which is liquid;

• They are unstable compounds;

• Its molecules interact through permanent dipole forces, with the exception of hydrogen peroxide, whose molecules interact through hydrogen bonds.

Nomenclature

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Peroxide + de + element name

See some examples:

→ Ag₂O₂

In the formula of the compound, we have the presence of the element silver, so the name is silver peroxide.

→ H₂O₂

In the compound formula, we have the presence of the element hydrogen, so the name is hydrogen peroxide.

→ SrO₂

In the formula of the compound, we have the presence of the element strontium, so the name is strontium peroxide.

Applications of peroxides

• Wound cleaning (exclusively hydrogen peroxide);

• Chemical reaction catalysts;

• Ionic peroxides can be used to obtain inorganic bases when they react with water;

• Ionic peroxides can be used to obtain inorganic salts when they react with acids;

• Paper whitening.

By Me. Diogo Lopes Dias

Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:

DAYS, Diogo Lopes. "What are peroxides?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/o-que-e/quimica/o-que-sao-peroxidos.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.