Why is CO2 not a peroxide when it contains oxygen like peroxides?

[Whalstib]

Hi,

What is the difference between peroxide and dioxide? Why isn't CO2 carbon peroxide?

I'm finding this important in Redox rxns but have not found a way to differentiate the 2 or actually define them.

Any help appreciatted!

Warren

 

[turbo]

Look up the definition of "peroxide" and pay special attention to the O-O

 

[Whalstib]

Thanks for being so quick!

But all I can find is a Wikipedia entry and have gleamed that peroxides are cations 2- as opposed to neutral O2 molecules...right?

So how does one determine if it's a peroxide? NaO2, LiO2, CO2 etc...is it determined by the charge? So Li2O2 a peroxide and LiO2 a dioxide?

I think I got it! Right?

W

 

[turbo]

What are the characteristics of peroxides? Are they oxidizers, and if so, why? Is CO₂ an oxidizer? If not, why not?

 

[Bohrok]

In beginning chemistry at least, you can look at it this way:

You can tell by the charge. Peroxide is O₂^2- as in Li₂O₂.
The two oxygens in NaO₂, however, are not part of peroxide because that ion has a 1- charge: O₂^- which is superoxide.
In a covalent compound such as CO₂, the two oxygens would be called dioxide.