Before Radicals Were Free – the Radical Particulier of de Morveau
Edwin C. Constable, Catherine E. Housecroft
Abstract
Today, we universally understand radicals to be chemical species with an unpaired electron. It was not always so, and this article traces the evolution of the term radical and in this journey, monitors the development of some of the great theories of organic chemistry.
Topics & Concepts
RadicalUnpaired electronChemistryPhilosophyPhotochemistryOrganic chemistryFree Radicals and AntioxidantsHistory and advancements in chemistryPhotochemistry and Electron Transfer Studies