AS Chemistry: Why the phrase unpaired electron?

So we're doing Unit 2 on Hydrocarbons etc. and the phrase unpaired electron is used when talking about radicals in free radical substitution. Can someone explain why it is called this. I understand that it is denoted as Cl

but I just want to know why it is called this so I can remember it better.
Thanks in advance.

Reply 1

BJack

19

It's called an unpaired electron because the electron isn't paired up in its orbital.... :s-smilie:

Reply 2

YMB?

OP

Original post by BJack

It's called an unpaired electron because the electron isn't paired up in its orbital.... :s-smilie:

Yes but why is it unpaired and our teacher said a Cl radical is the same as a Cl atom I.e. 7 electrons in its outermost shell? Is that correct. Also what's the significance of a single (unpaired electron)?

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Reply 3

Veqz

4

Original post by YMB?

Yes but why is it unpaired and our teacher said a Cl radical is the same as a Cl atom I.e. 7 electrons in its outermost shell? Is that correct. Also what's the significance of a single (unpaired electron)?

Posted from TSR Mobile

Yes Chlorine has 7 valence electrons in its outer shell. If you draw a lewis dot structure for Chlorine you'll see that there is one unpaired electron which is a radical. Also, a radical is very reactive, so reacts quickly to form new molecules.

Reply 4

YMB?

OP

Original post by Veqz

Yes Chlorine has 7 valence electrons in its outer shell. If you draw a lewis dot structure for Chlorine you'll see that there is one unpaired electron which is a radical. Also, a radical is very reactive, so reacts quickly to form new molecules.