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Radicals
Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 10:11 pm
by Jessica Helfond 2F
In what context would there be a radical? If they're so unstable, how do they exist?
Re: Radicals
Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 11:32 pm
by ian_haliburton_1f
It is because radicals are so unstable that they will only exist for a very short time before reacting with something else in an effort to regain stability. This intense reactivity is what makes them dangerous to things like the body's cells, for example.
Re: Radicals
Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 11:34 pm
by Karan Thaker 2L
Usually due to ions being created or charged molecular compounds that results in an oftentimes odd number of electrons can do that.
Re: Radicals
Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 11:38 pm
by Saman Andalib 1H
Radicals would occur if an atom becomes an ion and has an odd number of electrons. In addition, in the bonding of a particular molecule with an odd number of atoms, radicals frequently occur. It is standard procedure to assign radical electrons to an element in a particular molecule that would lessen the resulting formal charges and the overall formal charge of that molecule.