Peroxide

[2][3] Oxygen atoms are joined to each other and to adjacent elements through single covalent bonds, denoted by dashes or lines.

The characteristic structure of any regular peroxide is the oxygen-oxygen covalent single bond, which connects the two main atoms together.

Each oxygen atom has a charge of negative one, as 5 of its valence electrons remain in the outermost orbital shell whilst one is occupied in the covalent bond.

Because of the nature of the covalent bond, this arrangement results in each atom having the equivalent of 7 valence electrons, reducing the oxygens and giving them a negative charge.

This charge is affected by the addition of other elements, with the properties and structure changing depending on the added group(s).

Types of peroxides, from top to bottom: peroxide ion, organic peroxide , organic hydroperoxide, peracid . The peroxide group is marked in blue . R, R 1 and R 2 mark hydrocarbon moieties .