- Source: Caesium superoxide
Caesium superoxide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CsO2. It consists of caesium cations Cs+ and superoxide anions O−2. It is an orange solid.
Preparation
Burning caesium in excess oxygen will produce caesium superoxide.
Cs + O2 → CsO2
Properties
Caesium superoxide's crystal structure is same as calcium carbide. It contains direct oxygen-oxygen bonding.
It reacts with water to form hydrogen peroxide and caesium hydroxide.
2 CsO2 + 2 H2O → O2↑ + H2O2 + 2 CsOH
Heating to approximately 400 °C induces thermal decomposition to caesium peroxide.
The standard enthalpy of formation ΔHf0 of caesium superoxide is −295 kJ/mol.
Caesium superoxide reacts with ozone to form caesium ozonide.
CsO2 + O3 → CsO3 + O2