Sciencemadness Discussion Board

organic peroxide salts

John paul III - 13-8-2020 at 09:13

Do there exist organic peroxide salts? Salts like potassium peroxide or calcium peroxide are completely stable, so maybe such organic salts could make for stable peroxide explosives

[Edited on 13-8-2020 by John paul III]

macckone - 13-8-2020 at 09:55

short answer is yes organic peroxide salts are not stable.
organic peroxides are not stable because the carbon is not fully oxidized
in potassium peroxide and calcium peroxide the cation is fully oxidized.
And they still aren't that stable.

symboom - 13-8-2020 at 13:33

Ascaridole a naturally occurring organic peroxide
anthelmintic, antifungal, antimalarial, sedative and pain-relieving properties.

Along with Artemisininl

Acetyl acetone peroxide
Acetyl benzoyl peroxide
tert-Butyl hydroperoxide
Di-(1-naphthoyl)peroxide
Diacetyl peroxide
Ethyl hydroperoxide
Iodoxy compounds
Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide
Methyl isobutyl ketone peroxide


fdnjj6 - 13-8-2020 at 13:59

I'm not sure but if the organic molecule has an acidic hydrogen or is basic, there is a potential to form a salt. So I guess look for organic peroxide that have a high or low pH and see if you can find out if they form salts or not.

symboom - 13-8-2020 at 17:16

A peroxide salt how that is probably something that would be interesting
Does anyone know of any.

[Edited on 14-8-2020 by symboom]

Σldritch - 13-8-2020 at 23:00

Tetramethylammonium Ozonide is apparently stable up to 348 K, in which case superoxide is likely too. Im not so sure about peroxides being stable, they would be very strong bases likely attacking any methyl group (which you will need for stable basicisity of your cation). Maybe TbuP4 has stable salts of peroxide

macckone - 14-8-2020 at 07:14

sodium peracetate is the simplest peroxide salt.
technically it is a percarboxylic acid.
It is moderately stable but does decompose and is not what I would call stable.
Of course stable is relative.
It's explosive power is not the highest but you probably don't want to set it off in your hand.