Peroksiidrühma

Peroksiidrühma, also known as the peroxide functional group, is a chemical moiety characterized by a single covalent bond between two oxygen atoms, represented as -O-O-. This structure is a key feature of organic peroxides, which are compounds containing at least one peroxide bond. Inorganic peroxides also contain this characteristic O-O bond.

The peroxide bond is relatively weak, with a bond dissociation energy significantly lower than that of single bonds between carbon or oxygen and other atoms. This weakness makes peroxides highly reactive and prone to homolytic cleavage, where the O-O bond breaks symmetrically, yielding two oxygen-centered radicals. These radicals are highly energetic and can initiate a variety of chemical reactions, including polymerization, oxidation, and decomposition.

Due to their reactivity, peroxides are widely used as initiators in free-radical polymerization processes, enabling the synthesis of many plastics and polymers. They also find applications as oxidizing agents in organic synthesis and as bleaching agents. However, their inherent instability also poses safety hazards; many peroxides are explosive or flammable and require careful handling and storage. Some organic peroxides are used as catalysts in chemical reactions. The presence of the peroxide group can significantly influence the chemical and physical properties of a molecule.