Peroxide

Definition

A peroxide is a chemical compound that contains an oxygen-oxygen single bond (O-O). Peroxides are commonly encountered in the context of electrophilic addition reactions of alkenes and radical additions to alkenes, which are important topics in organic chemistry.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Peroxides can act as oxidizing agents, capable of initiating and propagating radical chain reactions.
2. In electrophilic addition reactions of alkenes, peroxides can be used as initiators to form halohydrins through the addition of a halogen and water.
3. Radical additions to alkenes, such as the formation of chain-growth polymers, often involve the use of peroxide initiators to generate free radicals and start the polymerization process.
4. Organic peroxides, like benzoyl peroxide, are commonly used as initiators in radical polymerization reactions to produce polymers such as polyethylene and polystyrene.
5. The decomposition of peroxides can be hazardous, as they can release oxygen and lead to explosions, making their handling and storage important safety considerations.

Review Questions

• Explain the role of peroxides in electrophilic addition reactions of alkenes.
  • Peroxides can act as initiators in electrophilic addition reactions of alkenes, such as the formation of halohydrins. The peroxide decomposes to generate a reactive species, like a halogen radical, which then adds to the alkene. This addition is followed by the addition of water, resulting in the formation of a halohydrin product. Peroxides facilitate these electrophilic addition reactions by providing the necessary reactive species to initiate the addition to the alkene.
• Describe the role of peroxides in radical additions to alkenes, specifically in the context of chain-growth polymers.
  • Peroxides are commonly used as initiators in radical addition reactions to alkenes, which are the basis for the formation of chain-growth polymers. The decomposition of peroxides generates free radicals that can add to the carbon-carbon double bond of an alkene monomer. This initiates a chain reaction, where the newly formed radical can then add another monomer, propagating the growth of the polymer chain. The use of peroxide initiators is crucial in controlling the polymerization process and the properties of the resulting chain-growth polymers, such as polyethylene and polystyrene.
• Evaluate the importance of understanding the reactivity and safety considerations of peroxides in organic chemistry laboratory settings.
  • Peroxides are highly reactive compounds that can pose significant safety risks if not handled properly. Understanding the reactivity of peroxides is crucial in organic chemistry, as they are commonly used as initiators in various reactions, including electrophilic additions to alkenes and radical additions leading to chain-growth polymers. Improper storage, heating, or exposure of peroxides can lead to violent decomposition and explosions, which can be hazardous to the researcher and the laboratory environment. Careful consideration of peroxide safety, such as proper containment, temperature control, and personal protective equipment, is essential to mitigate these risks and ensure a safe working environment in the organic chemistry lab.

Related terms

Electrophilic Addition: A type of organic reaction where an electrophile adds to an alkene, forming a new product with the addition of the electrophile and the alkene.

Radical Addition: A type of organic reaction where a radical species adds to an alkene, forming a new product with the addition of the radical and the alkene.

Chain-Growth Polymer: A polymer formed through a chain-growth polymerization process, where monomers are added one-by-one to a growing polymer chain.