Question

What is formed when potassium is heated strongly in oxygen?

Answer 1

The reaction of alkali metals with oxygen:

• When alkali metals react with oxygen, they form different oxides such as oxide, peroxide, or superoxide.

The reaction of potassium with oxygen:

• When potassium $\left(\mathrm{K}\right)$ is heated strongly with oxygen$\left({\mathrm{O}}_2\right)$, then it forms potassium superoxide $\left({\mathrm{KO}}_2\right)$ as a product.
• In the potassium superoxide, the oxidation number of $\mathrm{K}$ is $+1$ and $\mathrm{O}$ is $-\frac{1}{2}$ .
• The chemical equation is as follows:

$\stackrel{0}{\mathrm{K}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\stackrel{0}{{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \stackrel{+1}{\mathrm{K}}\stackrel{-1}{{\mathrm{O}}_2}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)$

Hence, Potassium superoxide $\mathbf{\left(}{\mathbf{KO}}_{\mathbf{2}}\mathbf{\right)}$ is formed when potassium is strongly heated in oxygen.