When potassium and oxygen react, one of the products obtained is potassium superoxide, KO₂. The anion in this compound is the superoxide ion, O₂⁻. Write the electron configuration for this ion in molecular orbital terms, and then compare it with the electron configuration of the O₂ molecule with respect to the following criteria:
(a) Magnetic character
(b) Net number of σ and π bonds
(c) Bond order
(d) Oxygen–oxygen bond length

Transcribed Image Text:

Courtesy of the Mine Safety Appliances Company A closed-circuit breathing apparatus that generates its own oxygen. One source of oxygen is potassium superoxide (KO₂). Both carbon dioxide and moisture exhaled by the wearer into the breathing tube react with the KO₂ to generate oxygen.