Radical (chemistry)

Radical (chemistry)

A Radical (pronounced /ˈrædɪkəl/), in chemistry, is a molecule that contains at least one unpaired electron. Most radicals are reasonably stable only at very low concentrations in inert media or in a vacuum.

Etymology

The term "radical" comes from the Latin word "radix" meaning "root". Originally, the term was used to indicate the root (i.e., the "non-changeable") part of a compound.

Related Terms

• Free radical: A type of radical where the unpaired electron is present on an atom that is not bonded to any other atom.
• Radical reaction: A type of chemical reaction that involves radicals.
• Radical polymerization: A type of polymerization where the growth of a polymer chain proceeds via a free radical reaction.
• Radical substitution: A type of substitution reaction where a radical replaces a different atom or group of atoms.

See Also

• Molecule
• Electron
• Chemical Reaction
• Polymerization
• Substitution Reaction

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Radical (chemistry)
• Wikipedia's article - Radical (chemistry)

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