Peroxide
any chemical compound containing an oxygen–oxygen single bond or an O₂²⁻ anion
Peroxides are a group of molecules with the structure R−O−O−R, where each R represents a radical (a portion of a complete molecule; not a free radical) and the O's are single oxygen atoms. Oxygen atoms are joined to each other and to adjacent elements through single covalent bonds, denoted by dashes or lines. The O−O group in a peroxide is often called the peroxide group, though some nomenclature discrepancies exist. This linkage is recognized as a common polyatomic ion, and exists in many molecules.
General structure
The characteristic structure of any regular peroxide is the oxygen–oxygen covalent single bond, which connects the two main atoms together. Each oxygen atom has a oxidation state of negative one, as 5 of its valence electrons remain in the outermost orbital shell whilst one is occupied in the covalent bond. Because of the nature of the covalent bond, this arrangement results in each atom having the equivalent of 7 valence electrons, reducing the oxygens and giving them a negative charge. This charge is affected by the addition of other elements, with the properties and structure changing depending on the added group(s).
Common forms
The most common peroxide is hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), colloquially known simply as "peroxide". Many organic peroxides are known as well.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Peroxide” is any chemical compound containing an oxygen–oxygen single bond or an O₂²⁻ anion. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Peroxide, chemical and compound, not as a finished interpretation.
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The phrase “any chemical compound containing an oxygen–oxygen single bond or an O₂²⁻ anion” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
Stable identifiers, scientific names and standards terminology offer the best bridge between this overview and specialist evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Feb 27, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q107429. The Library of Congress control number is sh85100033. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 1 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank.
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This entry incorporates text from “Peroxide” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.