Peroxodicarbonate

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! In chemistry, peroxodicarbonate is a divalent anion with formula C2O62. It is one of the oxocarbon anions, that consist solely of carbon and oxygen. Its molecular structure can be viewed as two carbonate anions joined so as to form a peroxide bridge -O-O-. The anion is formed, together with peroxocarbonate CO42, at the negative electrode during electrolysis of molten lithium carbonate. The anion can also be obtained by electrolysis of a saturated solution of rubidium carbonate in water. Potassium peroxodicarbonate K2C2O6 was obtained by Constam and von Hansen in 1895; its crystal structure was determined only in 2002. It too can be obtained by electrolysis of a saturated potassium carbonate solution at 20C. It is a light blue crystalline solid that decomposes at 141C, releasing oxygen and carbon dioxide, and decomposes slowly at lower temperatures.