What is a free-radical reaction?
1 Answer
Nov 5, 2015
A chemical reaction involving free radicals is a free radical reaction.
Explanation:
Maximum free radical reactions consist three chain steps: Chain initiation, chain propagation and chain termination step.
Radical reactions are very often initiated by light and are not dependent on polarity of the reaction medium.
Halogenation of alkanes is a good example of free radical reaction, esp. the chlorination of methane where chloroform(trichloromethane) and tetrachloromethane are formed. The UV light initiates the reaction and it also follows the three steps.