Britannica Sources used in this answer

How is potassium superoxide used in respiratory equipment?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

A periodic table element box for potassium shows atomic number 19, symbol K, atomic weight 39.0983, electron configuration [Ar]4s1, and name potassium. Icons indicate it is an alkali metal, solid at room temperature, body-centered cubic crystal structure, and has strongly basic higher-valence oxides. A key explains the symbols for alkali metals, solid state, body-centered cubic structure, and strong basicity. — potassium Properties of potassium.

Potassium superoxide ( ${KO}_{2}$ ) is utilized in respiratory equipment because of its ability to act as a self-contained source of breathable air. It functions by liberating oxygen while simultaneously removing carbon dioxide and water vapour from the exhaled breath of the user.1

This chemical process is effective because potassium superoxide is a strong oxidizing agent that reacts vigorously with water (hydrolysis) to produce oxygen gas and hydroxide ions. By scrubbing carbon dioxide and moisture from the air and replacing them with oxygen, the compound allows for the recycling of air in closed-circuit breathing apparatuses.21