CoO42

Cobalt tetroxide, with the chemical formula CoO4, is an unstable compound of cobalt and oxygen. It is an allotrope of cobalt oxide, but unlike more common oxides such as cobalt(II) oxide (CoO) or cobalt(III) oxide (Co2O3), CoO4 is an extremely powerful oxidizing agent. Its existence is primarily theoretical or observed under highly specific, transient conditions due to its inherent instability.

The theoretical structure of CoO4 is a tetrahedral arrangement of oxygen atoms around a central cobalt atom, similar to other tetroxide compounds like permanganate (MnO4-). This high oxidation state of cobalt (+7) is energetically unfavorable in standard conditions, leading to rapid decomposition.

Due to its extreme reactivity, CoO4 has very limited practical applications. It has been studied in theoretical chemistry and in highly controlled experimental settings to understand the limits of oxidation states for transition metals. Its synthesis and handling would require specialized equipment and extreme caution to prevent spontaneous reactions. The compound is not commercially available and is of academic interest rather than industrial importance. Research into such high oxidation state compounds continues to explore fundamental chemical principles.