Electron Sharing Reactions

Radical

Radical

An entity that has an unpaired electron, making it highly reactive.

Antioxidants

Substances that interact with radicals to prevent cellular damage.

Radicals

Highly reactive species produced through normal metabolic processes or external factors like UV radiation.

Homolytic fission

A type of bond breaking where each atom in a covalent bond takes one of the shared electrons, resulting in the formation of radicals.

Ozone layer

A layer of ozone (O3) in the Earth's atmosphere that absorbs UV radiation, protecting life on Earth.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Compounds that deplete the ozone layer by producing radicals when broken down by UV radiation.

Montreal Protocol

An international treaty established in 1987 to phase out the use of CFCs and protect the ozone layer.

Substitution reaction

A chemical reaction where a part of a molecule is replaced by another atom or group, often involving radicals and alkanes.

Initiation

The first step in a radical substitution reaction where a radical is formed.

Propagation

The second step in a radical substitution reaction where radicals react with covalent species, forming new radicals and continuing the chain reaction.

Termination

The final step in a radical substitution reaction where two radicals combine to form a stable product, ending the chain reaction.

Bond enthalpy

The amount of energy required to break a bond; lower bond enthalpy bonds are more likely to undergo homolytic fission.

UV radiation

A type of electromagnetic radiation that provides the energy necessary for homolytic fission to occur.

Alkane

A type of hydrocarbon that consists of only single-bonded carbon and hydrogen atoms, known for its stability and low reactivity.