KOMAL RAMZAN

2017-MSCCHEM-013
SUPER-OXIDES OF
ALKALI METALS
INTRODUCTION
Alkali Metals;
 A Group of Reactive

Elements Found In
Group 1A Of Periodic
table that Readily lose
their Valence electron.
 All these Elements

Occur naturally in
Combined state
SUPEROXIDES
Define
 Superoxide Anion O₂⁻• Is Highly Reactive

specie Produced When dioxygen is reduced by single

electron.
 Oxygen Containing Free Radical anion.
 O₂ † ℮ → O₂̄¹
 Configuration;
Superoxides Of Alkali Metals
 Only These Alkali Metals Form Super-oxides.
 • KO₂
• RbO₂ • CsO₂
 They form Super-oxides Due to Large size

 KO₂ Is Stable Superoxide

 RbO₂ , CsO₂ Form Unstable Super-oxides

 Unpaired electrons make free radical superoxide

highly reactive.
Synthesis Of Potassium
Superoxide:
Discovery :Production Method:-

 Discovered in 18th century.

 obtained in highly pure state by Oxidizing Potassium

metal dissolved liquid ammonia at 50◦C.

 Essential condition is absence of moisture in ammonia.

Synthesis On Industrial Scale:
 KO₂ is produced by the oxidation of dispersed liquid
potassium with air enriched with oxygen.

 Oxygen enriched air is heated to 75to 79◦C under

pressure of 0.13 atm.
K + O₂ → KO₂

 Production of KO₂ in united states by the mine safety

appliances company is 3tons/day.
Applications Of Superoxide:

 Potassium superoxide is used in respiratory

equipments because it liberates oxygen and remove
carbon dioxide.

 Used by fire fighters

 4KO₂ ⁺ 2CO₂ → 2K₂CO₃ ⁺3O₂

 Sea divers uses cylinders that contain KO₂ As oxygen

supply.
Inhaling Apparatus Of Sea Divers
Applications
 KO₂ used in Environmental Control And Life Support
System(ECLSS) like
 Submarine Vehicles
 Space Vehicles Breathing Mask ( Astronaut)
 Space Suits
 By fire fighters
 In mine rescue work
Self Contained Breathing Cylinders
Of Firefighters
Hazards
 Due to high reactivity they may cause explosives

 Dry KO₂ produce impact sensitive explosive

compound when combined with kerosene.

 Inhalation, Ingestion or Contact of KO₂ may cause

severe injury, Burns, or Death.

 RbO₂ And CsO₂ are unstable, they burst in air, and

cause damage.
REFERENCES
 F. A. Cotton and G. Wilkinson "Advanced
Inorganic Chemistry", 5th edition (1988),
p.462
  Hayyan M.; Hashim M. A.; AlNashef I. M.
(2016). "Superoxide Ion: Generation and
Chemical Implications". Chem. Rev. 116:
3029–3085. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00407.
 Peroxides, Superoxides, and Ozonides of
Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals. Authors ...
Il'ya Ivanovich Vol'nov. Editors; (view
affiliations). A. W. Petrocelli. Book (1966)