Organic Chemistry Interview Question:

What is the difference between an ion and a radical?

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An ion is a specie that have no unpaired electron and is charged, either positively or negatively i.e. may be a cation or an anion. It is formed due to heterolysis of a molecule e.g HCl----> H+ + Cl-
A radical is a neutral specie having atleast one unpaired electron and is formed due to homolysis of a molecule e.g
H-H -------> H* + H*
The * shows an unpaired electron. Similarly CH3* is a radical.
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