Oxides of Potassium

Potassium oxide Preparation : 1. By heating potassium nitrate with potassium nitrate with potassium. 2KNO3 + 10K --> 6K2O +N2 Potassium peroxide (K2O2) Preparation : By burning potassium at 300'C in a limited supply of air or oxygen. 2K + O2 --> K2O2 POTASSIUM Superoxide (KO2) Preparation : i. Passage O2 through a blue solution of K in liquid NH3 yields oxides K2O2, K2O3 , KO2 reacts with H2O and produces H2O2 and O2 both. ii. It is prepared by burning potassium in excess of oxygen free from moisture. K + O2 --> KO2 POTASSIUM SESQUIOXIDE (K2O3) preparation : It is obtained when oxygen is passed through liquid ammonia containing potassium . 4k + NH3 --> 2K2O3