VlInfrir

Free Radical vs Ion

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Free radicals are Ions are chemical species

chemical having either a DEFINITION
species having positive or
one or a negative electrical

more unpaired electrons . charge.

ELECTRICAL
No electrical charge .

Either positive or CHARGE

a
No unpaired electrons
negative electrical
.

charge .

One or more unpaired

electrons essentially
present .

UNPAIRED

ELECTRONS

STABILITY Relatively unstable .

Relatively stable .
 Become stable by Become stable when
GAINING accepting electrons .
they form complexes
STABILITY with oppositely charged
compounds .

Exist by themselves .

Combined with
OCCURRENCE oppositely charged ions .

Neither oxidants nor

reducing agents .

Can act as both oxidizing

The number of electrons
and reducing agents
is equal to the number
.

of protons
.

The total number of

electrons is always not
equal to the number of
•rotons in the nucleus .

OXIDATION OR

REDUCTION

ELECTRONS AND
PROTONS