Chemical elements
  Thorium
    Isotopes
    Energy
    Production
    Application
    Physical Properties
    Chemical Properties
      Thorium Hydride
      Thorium Fluoride
      Thorium Oxyfluoride
      Potassium Thorifluoride
      Thorium Chloride
      Thorium Oxychloride
      Complex Thorium Chlorides
      Thorium Bromide
      Thorium Oxybromide
      Thorium Iodide
      Thorium Dioxide
      Thoria
      Metathorium Oxide
      Thorium Hydroxide
      Thorium Superoxide
      Thorium Sulphide
      Thorium Sulphite
      Thorium Sulphate
      Complex Thorium Sulphates
      Thorium Selenite
      Thorium Selenate
      Thorium Nitride
      Thorium Nitrate
      Thorium Orthophosphate
      Thorium Arsenates
      Thorium Carbide
      Thorium Carbonate
      Thorium Formate
      Thorium Acetate
      Thorium Oxalate
      Thorium Tartrate
      Thorium Acetylacetone
      Thorium Silicide
      Thorium Silicate
      Thorium Borides

Thorium Superoxide, Th2O7






Thorium Superoxide, Th2O7, is obtained in a hydrated form when ammonia is added to a mixture of thorium acetate or sulphate solution and hydrogen peroxide. This superoxide is rather unstable and easily loses some oxygen, so passing into more stable trioxide, ThO3. By the action of dilute sulphuric acid on the superoxide, Th2O7, hydrogen peroxide is formed in solution, whilst concentrated sulphuric acid yields ozonised oxygen. The superoxide Th2O7 is formed by the action of hypochlorite as well as hydrogen peroxide on Th(OH)4, and also by the electrolysis of an alkaline solution of sodium chloride in which thorium hydroxide, Th(OH)4, is suspended. It is therefore regarded by Pissarjewski as a true superoxide, and not merely an addition compound of Th(OH)4 and H2O2. Its formation from the nitrate is therefore thus represented:

Th(NO3)4 + 4HO2H = Th(O2H)4 + 4HNO3,

Th(O2H)4 being a salt of hydrogen peroxide, which is subsequently hydrolysed to Th(O2H)2(OH)2 and Th(O2H)(OH)3, a mixture of which constitutes Th2O7.
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