Question

What is a `"peroxide linkage"`?

Answer 1

Well a peroxide is an `O-O` linkage.......

Explanation:

Of which the simplest compound is `H-O-O-H`, hydrogen peroxide. Oxygen is here in a `stackrel(-I)O` instead of its usual `stackrel(-II)O` or `stackrel(0)O` oxidation states.

And super-oxide is contains the `O_2^-` ion, `""^(-)O-dotO`, with formal oxidation states of `stackrel(-I)O` and `stackrel(0)O`.

When superoxide salts react with water they undergo disproportionation to give water, and oxygen gas....and firefighters (for instance) use this as a portable oxygen supply.....

`4O_2^(-)+2H_2O rarr 3O_2(g)uarr+4HO^-`

Superoxide is commonly supplied as its potassium salt, `K^(+)O_2^-`, `"potassium superoxide"`.