Oxidation state of oxygen atom in potassium superoxide is

Options

A. `-(1)/(2)`
B. `-1`
C. `-2`
D. 0

Answer

To determine the oxidation state of the oxygen atom in potassium superoxide (KO2), we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Compound**: The compound in question is potassium superoxide, which has the formula KO2.

2. **Determine the Oxidation State of Potassium (K)**: Potassium is an alkali metal and typically has an oxidation state of +1.

3. **Set Up the Equation for the Superoxide Ion (O2^-)**: The superoxide ion (O2^-) consists of two oxygen atoms. Since the overall charge of the superoxide ion is -1, we can denote the oxidation state of each oxygen atom as X.

4. **Write the Equation**: For the superoxide ion, the equation can be written as:
\[ 2X = -1 \]
This equation accounts for the total charge of the two oxygen atoms.

5. **Solve for X**: To find the oxidation state of each oxygen atom, we can solve the equation:
\[ X = \frac{-1}{2} = -\frac{1}{2} \]

6. **Conclusion**: The oxidation state of each oxygen atom in potassium superoxide (KO2) is -1/2.

### Final Answer:
The oxidation state of the oxygen atom in potassium superoxide is **-1/2**.