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CGP EDU Academic Team
Published on: August 14, 2026
Lithium forms monoxide, sodium gives peroxide while the rest of the alkali metals form superoxide mainly when treated with excess of air. Explain.
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Small cation have high polarizing power therefore it stabilizes monoatomic anion.
e.g. Li 2 O
Large cation have less polarizing power therefore it can stabilize polyatomic anion.
e.g. Na 2 O 2 ; KO 2
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