Question

what does superoxide an peroxide means?

Answer 1

Superoxides are compounds that possess the superoxide anion with the chemical formula O₂^-.With one unpaired e^-, the superoxide ion is a free radical and is paramagnetic in nature.

In case of superoxides like CsO₂,NaO₂, KO₂, RbO₂ each oxygen atom is assigned an oxidation state of -1/2.

Peroxides are compounds containing an oxygen-oxygen single bond or the peroxide anion [O-O]^2-.The O-O group is called the peroxide group.

In case of peroxides H₂O₂, Na₂O₂ each oxygen atom is assigned an oxidation state of -1.