Copper peroxide

Copper peroxide is a hypothetical inorganic compound with the chemical formula CuO₂. The 1:2 ratio of copper and oxygen would be consistent with copper in its common +2 oxidation state and a peroxide group. Although samples of this composition have not been isolated, CuO₂ has attracted interest from computational perspective. One highly cited analysis concludes that gaseous CuO₂ is a superoxide, with copper in a +1 oxidation state: Cu⁺O−2.^[1]

Copper(II) peroxide

Names
IUPAC name Copper(II) peroxide
Identifiers
CAS Number	12019-06-6
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	13333045
InChI InChI=1S/Cu.O2/c;1-2/q+2;-2 Key: CNBDXDKFMUKCIQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES [Cu+2].[O-][O-]
Properties
Chemical formula	CuO2
Molar mass	95.945 g/mol
Appearance	Dark olive-green solid
Related compounds
Related compounds	Copper(IV) oxide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

History

Species claimed to be "copper peroxide" have been claimed, e.g., by the reaction of cold solutions of Schweizer's reagent—a source of copper(II)—and hydrogen peroxide.^[2] The Schweizer's reagent used must not contain excess ammonia.^[2]

It was once claimed to result from the very slow reaction of finely divided cupric oxide with cold hydrogen peroxide.^[3]

Several molecular copper peroxide complexes have been reported, but these species always feature supporting organic ligands.^[4]