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The hydroperoxyl radical, also known as the hydrogen superoxide, is the protonated form of superoxide with the chemical formula HO2, also written HOO•. This species plays an important role in the atmosphere and as a reactive oxygen species in cell biology.
The superoxide anion, , and the hydroperoxyl radical exist in equilibrium in aqueous solution:
It oxidizes nitric oxide to nitrogen dioxide:
Because dielectric constant has a strong effect on p Ka, and the dielectric constant of air is quite low, superoxide produced (photochemically) in the atmosphere is almost exclusively present as . As hydroperoxyl is quite reactive, it acts as a "cleanser" of the atmosphere by degrading certain organic pollutants. As such, the chemistry of is of considerable geochemical importance.
Reactive oxygen species in biology
Together with its conjugate base superoxide, hydroperoxyl is an important reactive oxygen species. Unlike , which has reducing properties, can act as an oxidant in a number of biologically important reactions, such as the abstraction of hydrogen atoms from tocopherol and polyunstaturated fatty acids in the lipid bilayer. As such, it may be an important initiator of lipid peroxidation.
Importance for atmospheric chemistry
Gaseous hydroperoxyl is involved in reaction cycles that destroy stratospheric ozone. It is also present in the troposphere, where it is essentially a byproduct of the oxidation of carbon monoxide and of by the hydroxyl radical.
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