What is the meaning after the naming of radicals in chemistry ?

a radical is a group that contains an "unpaired" electron. And it is very reactive





In the past, people called any chemical species, branches, groups, etc radicals. But not anymore. At least according to IUPAC.





***** examples *****





CH3鈥?br>




H2O2 ----%26gt; 2 HO鈥?br>




Cl鈥?br>




etc are all radicals





in the past





CH3 - CH2 - ph...





where ph is phenyl (aka benzene)... CH3 would be called a radical, CH3-CH2 would be called a radical, ph would be called a radical etc... but again about 30 years ago IUPAC made the ruling that only compounds with "unpaired" electrons would be called a radical.





http://goldbook.iupac.org/R05066.html





**** update ****


"radicals" are entities that differ markedly from the usual. radicals in chemistry are called radicals because the differ in reactivity from the norm. They are highly reactive.





http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/co...

What is the meaning after the naming of radicals in chemistry ?
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