free radicals (1 Viewer)

[4lettersdown]

do you really need to represent a free radical with a ., for example
CFCl₃-->CFCl₂ + Cl.

or is it enough writing

CFCl₃-->CFCl₂ + Cl^-

 

[tizona]

just do the dot, im pretty sure its needed

 

[4lettersdown]

ok, thanks alot.
sure am gladI looked at BoS, my teacher never mentioned the dot

 

[brenton1987]

do you really need to represent a free radical with a ., for example
CFCl₃-->CFCl₂ + Cl.

or is it enough writing

CFCl₃-->CFCl₂ + Cl^-

The ^. represents a single electron which is required by a radical. The ^- represents a pair of electrons which is required by an anion. So yes the ^. must be displayed.

 

[4lettersdown]

The ^. represents a single electron which is required by a radical. The ^- represents a pair of electrons which is required by an anion. So yes the ^. must be displayed.

is it acceptable to use both?

 

[brenton1987]

is it acceptable to use both?

No

CFCl₃-->CFCl₂ + Cl.
CFCl₃-->CFCl₂ + Cl^-

Both of those equations are electrically unbalanced.

CFCl₃ --> CFCl₂^. + Cl^.
CFCl₃ --> CFCl₂⁺ + Cl^-

See the difference?

One of the C-Cl bonds has broken. In the first equation the C keeps one electron and the Cl keeps the other electron. They are both radicals.
In the second equation the C gives up both electrons and Cl takes both elections. One is a cation and the other is an anion.

 

[4lettersdown]

No


Both of those equations are electrically unbalanced.

CFCl₃ --> CFCl₂^. + Cl^.
CFCl₃ --> CFCl₂⁺ + Cl^-

See the difference?

One of the C-Cl bonds has broken. In the first equation the C keeps one electron and the Cl keeps the other electron. They are both radicals.
In the second equation the C gives up both electrons and Cl takes both elections. One is a cation and the other is an anion.

thanks, much appreciated.