More organic

• Radicals are species with an unpaired electron which can be easily removed, therefore making them highly reactive.
• Free radicals can be formed by homolytic fission.
• A covalent bond between atoms in a halogen molecule can be broken in homolytic fission, which splits the pair of electrons between the two atoms forming two free radicals.
• Cl - Cl -> Cl• + Cl•
• Initiation is the step of free radicals substitution where diatomic halogen molecules are split into halogen free radicals by ultraviolet light.
• Propagation is when the chain reaction occurs. The free radical abstracts hydrogen from another molecule to form a new free radical.
• Propagation consists of two steps. First the free radicals removes an alkanes hydrogen atom forming an alkyl radical and another molecule. Next the alkyl radical gains a halogen atom to form a haloalkane and a new halogen free radical.
• Termination of free radical substitution occurs when two free radicals react to form a stable molecule that no longer participates in the chain reaction.
• Prefixes for organic compounds:

  • Meth
  • Eth
  • Prop
  • But
  • Pent
  • Hex
  • Hept
  • Oct
  • Non
  • Dec