Organic peroxide is any carbon-containing compound with ____ oxygen atoms joined together

Organic peroxide is any carbon-containing compound with ____ oxygen atoms joined together

• A. 1
• B. 3
• C. 4
• D. 2

Answer: (D)

Two oxygen atoms joined together by a single bond define the peroxide group. An organic peroxide is a carbon-containing compound that contains an O-O linkage, so the correct fill-in is two. That O-O bond is the telltale feature that distinguishes peroxides from other oxygen-containing compounds like alcohols or ethers. The presence of this weak O-O bond also explains why peroxides can be highly reactive and require careful handling. If there were only one oxygen, you’d be dealing with alcohols or ethers, and having more than two oxygens isn’t what characterizes the peroxide linkage.

Two oxygen atoms joined together by a single bond define the peroxide group. An organic peroxide is a carbon-containing compound that contains an O-O linkage, so the correct fill-in is two. That O-O bond is the telltale feature that distinguishes peroxides from other oxygen-containing compounds like alcohols or ethers. The presence of this weak O-O bond also explains why peroxides can be highly reactive and require careful handling. If there were only one oxygen, you’d be dealing with alcohols or ethers, and having more than two oxygens isn’t what characterizes the peroxide linkage.