Freeradical
Free radical, or freeradical, is a chemical species that contains one or more unpaired electrons, making it highly reactive. Most free radicals are neutral; charged radicals also exist. The unpaired electron resides in an orbital and often leads to an incomplete valence shell, driving rapid chemical reactions with other molecules or with themselves. Free radicals are typically short-lived in solution unless their reactivity is reduced by resonance stabilization, steric protection, or distribution of the unpaired electron over a conjugated system.
Free radicals are formed by homolytic bond cleavage, redox reactions, photolysis, or radiolysis. Common routes include
Radical reactions are central to polymerization, combustion, and various organic syntheses. In biology, reactive oxygen and
Detection and study of free radicals employ electron spin resonance (ESR or EPR) spectroscopy, often with spin-trapping