The oxides of alkali metals are easily hydrolysed by water to form the hydroxides according to the following reactions:
M2O+H2O→2MOHxM2O2+H2O→2MOHx+H2O2y2MO2+H2O→2MOHx+H2O2y+O2z
Number of atoms in one molecule of MOH, H2O2 and O2 are 3,4 and 2 respectively.
∴ Sum of atoms present in x,y and z is 9.