Why is the Size of Superoxide Larger than Peroxide?

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The discussion centers on the size difference between superoxide (O2-) and peroxide (O22-), highlighting that superoxide has a weaker bond compared to peroxide due to its oxidation state of -1/2 versus -1 for peroxide. This weaker bond results in superoxide only being able to bond with one cation, such as potassium in KO2, while peroxide can bond with two cations, exemplified by hydrogen in H2O2. The size of a molecule is influenced by both the number of atoms and bond lengths, contributing to the overall understanding of why superoxide is considered larger than peroxide.
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why the size of superoxide is lager than preoxide??
 
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See this for a brief discussion - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superoxide - but basically the superoxide radical O2- would produce a weaker bond than O22-. On the other hand superoxide only reacts/bonds with one cation (KO2), as opposed to two cations in the case of peroxide (e.g. H2O2).
 
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thanks a lots
 
what is the meaning of this statement??
"On the other hand superoxide only reacts/bonds with one cation (KO2), as opposed to two cations in the case of peroxide (e.g. H2O2)."
 
The number of atoms would also determine the 'size' of a molecule, in addition to the bond 'lengths'. I was thinking of the original question - "why the size of superoxide is larger than peroxide".
 
real said:
what is the meaning of this statement??
"On the other hand superoxide only reacts/bonds with one cation (KO2), as opposed to two cations in the case of peroxide (e.g. H2O2)."

oxidation state of superoxide is -1/2, peroxide is -1. K and H are both +1 cations.
 
i see. I get your point, thanks~!
 

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