Chemistry · Periodic trends in properties of elements: atomic and ionic radii, ionization enthalpy, electron gain enthalpy, valence, oxidation states and chemical reactivity

Only those elements of s-block can produce superoxides which have :

Only those elements of s-block can produce superoxides which have :

  • A. High ionisation energy
  • B. High electronegativity
  • C. High charge density
  • D. Low ionisation potential

Step-by-step solution

Superoxides (containing O2⁻) are stabilized by large cations with low ionization energy. Among s-block elements, only heavy alkali metals (K, Rb, Cs) have sufficiently low ionization potential to form superoxides. High ionization energy or high charge density would favor smaller cations, which do not stabilize the large superoxide ion.
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