What is another name for polyatomic ion?
A polyatomic ion, also known as a molecular ion, is a charged chemical species composed of two or more atoms covalently bonded or of a metal complex that can be considered to be acting as a single unit.
Are radicals and ions the same?
Ions have a charge, whereas radicals are neutral. Also, ions in nature tend to be compensated by ions with opposite charges, whereas radicals are very reactive and thus short lived.
Are all ions radicals?
Not all radicals are ions. See for instance chemical substances as NO, or ClO2, or O2 itself, which is a biradical. A radical is a chemical species which has one, or more, unpaired electron(s). On the other hand, while most ions are not radicalic, some radical ions do exist: see for instance superoxide ion O2- .
What are radicals in chemistry?
radical, also called Free Radical, in chemistry, molecule that contains at least one unpaired electron. Most molecules contain even numbers of electrons, and the covalent chemical bonds holding the atoms together within a molecule normally consist of pairs of electrons jointly shared by the atoms linked by the bond.
What are polyatomic ions list two examples?
The prefix poly- means “many,” in Greek, but even ions of two atoms are commonly referred to as polyatomic. Examples: Carbonate (CO32-), sulphate (SO42-), nitrate – NO3- and hydroxide ions OH- are all polyatomic ions.
What is difference between radical and free radical?
A radical (often, but unnecessarily called a free radical) is an atom or group of atoms that have one or more unpaired electrons. Radicals can have positive, negative or neutral charge.
Why are molecular ions called radicals?
The ion that results from the loss of an electron is called the molecular ion. The molecular ion is an example of a radical cation. It is a cation because of its plus charge, and a radical because not all of its electrons are found in pairs.
Are polyatomic ions ionic or covalent?
Polyatomic ions are ions that are composed of two or more atoms that are linked by covalent bonds, but that still have a net deficiency or surplus of electrons, resulting in an overall charge on the group. A metal plus a polyatomic ion yields an ionic compound.