Superoxide

Name:
Superoxide
Detailed information:
A compound characterized by the presence in its structure of the O₂⁻ ion. The O₂⁻ ion has an odd number of electrons (17) and as a result all superoxide compounds are paramagnetic. At room temperature they have a yellowish color. At low temperature many of them undergo reversible phase transitions accompanied by a color change to white. The stable superoxides are
sodium superoxide	NaO2
potassium superoxide	KO2
rubidium superoxide	RbO2
cesium superoxide	CsO2
calcium superoxide	Ca(O2)2
strontium superoxide	Sr(O2)2
barium superoxide	Ba(O2)2
tetramethylammonium superoxide	(CH3)4NO2
In these compounds each oxygen atom has an oxidation number of −1/2 instead of −2, as a normal oxide.