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Home » Class 11 » Chemistry » Organic Chemistry - Some Basic Principles and Techniques » Free Radicals

Free Radicals

Last Updated on March 20, 2019 By Mrs Shilpi Nagpal 2 Comments

Contents

  • 1 Free Radical
  • 2 Classification of Free Radicals
  • 3 Stability of Free Radicals
  • 4 Orbital structure of Free Radicals

Free Radical

A free radical may be defined as an atom or a group having an odd or unpaired electron.These are generally produced by homolytic cleavage of a covalent bond.

Formation of chlorine radical

Peroxide formation

Classification of Free Radicals

Free radicals are also classified as primary (1°) , secondary (2°) and tertiary (3°) according as the carbon carrying the unpaired electron is primary, secondary and tertiary.

classification of free radicals

Stability of Free Radicals

The order of stability of free radicals is the same as that of carbocations i.e. 3° >2° >1°

This order of stability can be explained on the basis of hyperconjugation.

Greater the number of alkyl groups attached to the carbon atom carrying the odd electrons, greater is the delocalization of the odd electrons and hence more stable is the alkyl free radical.

Stability of free radical

Allyl and benzyl free radicals are stabilized by resonance.

allyl and benzyl free radical

Greater the number of phenyl groups more stable is the free radical.

Free radicals are also very short-lived highly reactive chemical species because of the strong tendency of the carbon atom carrying the odd electron to acquire one more electron to complete its octet.

Orbital structure of Free Radicals

Orbital structure of free radicals

Alkyl free radicals are planar chemical species.In free radicals, the unhybridized p-orbital contains the odd electron.

Like carbanions , free radicals can also assume pyramidal shape since the energy difference  between planar and pyramidal shape is not much.

Filed Under: Chemistry, Class 11, Organic Chemistry - Some Basic Principles and Techniques Tagged With: classification of free radical, formation of free radical, free radical, Orbital structure of free radicals, Stability of free radicals

About Mrs Shilpi Nagpal

Author of this website, Mrs Shilpi Nagpal is MSc (Hons, Chemistry) and BSc (Hons, Chemistry) from Delhi University, B.Ed (I. P. University) and has many years of experience in teaching. She has started this educational website with the mindset of spreading Free Education to everyone.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kar says

    January 8, 2020 at 7:26 pm

    Really basic & useful text for class XI syllabus. Many thanks Madam.

    Reply
  2. Gursimran says

    November 10, 2020 at 1:45 pm

    Thanks mam it is very helpful

    Reply

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