What are the difference between ions and free radicals?

Answer 1

Polyatomic and molecular ions are often formed by the combination of elemental ions such as H+ with neutral molecules or by the loss of such elemental ions from neutral molecules. Many of these processes are acid-base reactions, as first theorized by German scientist Lauren Gaither. A radical ion is a free radical species that carries a charge. Radical ions are encountered in organic chemistry as reactive intermediates. For more details, check the link in wikipedia to the left of this column.
An ion is an electrically charged atom or radical; it can have either a positive or negative charge, depending upon whether it has lost or gained electrons. A radical is a small group of atoms, such as the nitrate radical composed of one nitrogen and three oxygen atoms. When a compound such as potassium nitrate is dissolved in water, you then get the potassium ion, with a charge of plus one, and the nitrate ion with a charge of minus one. But when the compound is in solid form, it is not ionized and the radical is not an ion.

Other version,, An atom or group of atoms having at least one unpaired electron or vacant valency is a radical, there are two types of radicals 1- charged radical or ion 2- free radical as one chlorine atom.

Answer 2

In an atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. In an ion, the number of electrons is not equal to the number of neutrons. A positive ion has more protons than electrons whilst a negative ion has more electrons than protons.

Atom's are the smallest particles which is undivided and

consist of the positively charged protons and negatively

charged electrons. The number of electrons equal the number

of protons, so the total charge is 0.

In ions the number of protons are not equal the number of

electrons.

Answer 3

ion has a charge. e.g. OH with eight electrons. O has 6 electrons and H has 1. but every atom strives to get 8 electrons in its outer orbit, and H, He try to get 2 electrons. so ion may get formed with 8 electrons. and it ends up with charge -1. radical on the other hand is simply OH with 7 electrons. 6 of O and 1 of H. its charge is 0 unlike ions. therefore ions are basically formed under special conditions of acheiving molecular stability in terms of acheiving 2/8 electrons in outer orbit inspite of obtaining a charge.

"Ions are any atoms or molecules that have a net charge. Hence an ion is any discrete molecular substance where the number of protons and the number of electrons are different".

"Radicals, on the other hand, are when an orbital has an unpaired electron".

Radicals have an odd number of electrons, meaning at least one electron is in an orbital by itself, unpaired.

Ions are molecules where the net charge isn't zero. If protons outnumber electrons, it's a cation with a positive charge. If the electrons are more numerous, it is an anion with a negative charge. The protons are set by the element, and don't change (short of fusion or fission). Electrons change a lot. So chlorine with 18 electrons is an ion, while argon with 18 electrons is not. Both argon and chlorine with 17 electrons are radicals, because 17 are odd. But argon with 17 electrons is a radical ions, since it has more protons, but chlorine with 17 electrons is just a radical, but isn't ionic, since there's no net charge.

As explained blow in examples:

1) Chlorine is a diatomic compound. Two atoms bind together, and the 17th electron in each atom shares a single orbital. In molecules with covalent bonds, orbitals merge. In this way, the number of electrons and protons for the molecule is equal. Diatomic elements are common in group VII elements. Hydrogen does this as well. Else wise, a single atom can ionize by gaining an electron (in group VII) or by losing an electron (group I). So a hydrogen atom without an electron is an ion, as is a chlorine atom with 18 electrons. Either situation results in no unpaired electrons.

2) It's true for Br, but not Na. Na instead forms cations (ions with a positive charge) by getting rid of its unpaired electron, just as Br pairs its electron by picking up an extra electron and becoming an anion (a negatively charged electron).

3) Oxygen by itself would be a radical ion if it lost an electron, because the number of total electrons would be odd (7 instead of 8) and the number of electrons wouldn't match the number of protons (7 vs. 8).

Answer 4

The difference between a simple radical and an ion is that a radical has an unpaired electron, but does not carry a charge. Ions are atoms or molecules with net electric charge from gaining or losing electrons.

Answer 5

Differences between Ions and Free RadicalsBelow are just a FEW of the differences.

1. Ions have a charge( either positive or negative) whereas Free Radicals are usually neutral.
2. Ions have completed their valance shell though chemical[covalent] bonding( either though the octet or duplet rule) while the valance shell of free radicals is incomplete.
3. Ions have an even number of electrons whereas free radicals have an odd number of electrons.
4. Ions are represented with a "-" or "+" in the superscript while free radicals have a dot(.) above them for the unpaired electron.

Answer By Awan, Zunnoor F.

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Answer 6

Cation is an atom with a positive charge... one or more of its electrons are missing, resulting a positive charge. There are electron orbitals around atoms and each orbital needs certain number of

Answer 7

An atom is neutral and not deficient of electron while a free radical is not