tetroxide

A tetroxide is a chemical compound that contains four oxygen atoms in its molecular structure. In inorganic chemistry, tetroxides often consist of a central atom bonded to four oxygen ligands (an MO4 unit), or refer to discrete molecules that have the four oxygens arranged around the central atom. The term is most commonly applied to oxides of heavy elements.

Several well-known tetroxides include osmium tetroxide (OsO4), ruthenium tetroxide (RuO4), and xenon tetroxide (XeO4). These compounds are typically highly oxidizing and many are volatile, unstable at ambient conditions, and sensitive to heat or light. Central atoms in these species are in high oxidation states, frequently +8, and the M–O bonds are strong covalent.

Osmium tetroxide is a volatile, toxic oxidizer widely used in organic synthesis for syn-dihydroxylation of alkenes and in electron microscopy staining. Ruthenium tetroxide is also a powerful oxidant used mainly in laboratory-scale oxidations and often generated in situ. Xenon tetroxide is a rare, highly reactive species that can be prepared under controlled conditions and tends to decompose quickly.

Safety and handling: tetroxides are typically corrosive and strong oxidizers, requiring specialized equipment and inert or vented setups to avoid vigorous reactions. Research on tetroxides continues in inorganic and organometallic chemistry, often focusing on their synthetic routes and reactivity.