Which is more stable #cl-# or chlorine free redical ?

2 Answers
anor277
Jul 3, 2016

The neutral #Cl*# radical should be far more reactive than #Cl^-#, chloride anion.

Explanation:

The chlorine radical has 7 valence electrons, and in the very fact of making a #"2-centre, 2 electron bond"# it would generate another radical to continue the chain.

#Cl* + CH_4 rarr *CH_3 + H-Cl# etc.

Truong-Son N.
Jul 3, 2016

When we say "chlorine wants to gain one electron", we speak of the radical atom.

Chlorine as a free radical, #"Cl"cdot#, is the chlorine atom that we say has 7 valence electrons and wants its 8th to form an octet.

Chlorine as an anion, #"Cl"^(-)#, has already gained its 8th valence electron and has an argon-like electron configuration:

#1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6#

So, #"Cl"cdot#, chlorine radical, is less stable, and #"Cl"^(-)#, chlorine ion, is more stable.

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