Question

a. Monoxides of all alkali metals are hydrolysed by water, but lithium monoxide is slowly hydrolysed. Why?
b. Predict the product of the product of the hydrolysis of `KO_(2)`.
c. Which of the following is paramagnetic: `K_(2)O, K_(2)O_(2), KO_(2)`
d. Caestium oxide is expected to be strongly basic, weakly basic or acidic.

Answer 1

a. Lithium monoxide is highly stable due to its highly lattice energy (lattice energy `prop 1//r_(o+) + r_(Θ))`.
b. `2KO_(2)+2H_(2)O rarr 2KOH + H_(2)O_(2)+O_(2)`
c. `KO_(2)` is paramagnetic, due to the presence of an unpaired electron in `O_(2)^(Θ)` (superoxide ion).
d. Caesium oxide is strongly basic.