Chemistry
What do you understand by radicals : What are basic and acidic radicals ? Explain with examples.
Answer
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 (CO32-) is an acidic radical with combining power 2.
Related Questions
Give the information conveyed by the chemical formula of a compound.
Write the significance of a molecular formula.
Give four examples of compounds with variable valency.
(a) Account for the existence of radicals in the atmosphere.
(b) How are they produced in the atmosphere?
(c) What is the role of radicals in the atmosphere?