What do you understand by radicals : What are basic and acidic radicals ? Explain with examples.

A radical is an atom or a group of atoms of the same or of different elements that behaves as a single unit with a positive or a negative charge.

An Acid radical is the radical that remains after an acidic molecule loses a hydrogen ion (H⁺). Acid radicals typically have a negative charge. They are also called electronegative radicals or anions.

A Basic radical is the radical that remains after a base molecule loses a hydroxyl ion (OH^-). Basic radicals typically have a positive charge. They are also called electropositive radicals or cations.

For example, in the compound ammonium carbonate (NH₄)₂CO₃, ammonium (NH₄⁺) is a basic radical with combining power 1 and carbonate (CO₃^2-) is an acidic radical with combining power 2.