Radikalen

Radikalen is a term found in several European languages, used to refer to radicals in different disciplinary contexts. In German and related languages, Radikalen is a grammatical form of the plural radical noun, commonly appearing in cases such as dative or genitive; the nominative plural is typically Radikale. In everyday usage, the word can describe people or groups characterized as radical, whether politically, ideologically, or socially.

In science, radicals are reactive species with unpaired electrons. In chemistry, examples include the methyl radical (•CH3) and the hydroxyl radical (•OH). These entities are highly reactive and typically short-lived, playing central roles in processes such as combustion, atmospheric chemistry, polymerization, and various radical reactions. Radicals are often generated or detected through specialized techniques and studied to understand reaction mechanisms and environmental impacts.

In mathematics and related fields, the concept of a radical relates to roots. The radical sign (√) denotes taking a root, commonly the square root. In linguistics and morphology, the term radical can refer to the root or base morpheme of a word—the core element from which related forms are built. In some languages, the equivalent term and its plural forms are used when discussing root words or base forms of lexemes.

In political and social discourse, Radikalen can describe people or movements that advocate fundamental or sweeping change. The term may carry neutral, descriptive, or pejorative connotations depending on context, authority, and tone.

See also: radical, radicals in chemistry, radical sign, root (linguistics).