Question

Give examples of positive radicals.

Answer 1

Hint:We have to know that radical ion is a free radical species which carries a charge. We often use the term radical ions in organic chemistry. They are seen as reactive intermediates and they are present as gas phase ions in mass spectrometry. There are two types of radicals one is positive radical ions and negative radical ions.

Complete answer:
We must remember that the radicals are usually unstable and highly reactive. They are short lived species.
We saw that a free radical species which carries a charge is called a radical ion. Radical ions are of two types,
-Positive radical ions
-Negative radical ions
We have to know that the positive radical ions are also known as radical cations. The radical anions are the other name given for negative radical ions.
We have to know that cationic radical species have low stability. They are seen importantly in the mass spectrometry. When a gas-phase molecule is targeted to electron ionization one electron is taken by an electron in the electron beam to form a radical cation ${M^ + }$. This species indicates the molecular ion or parent ion.
We can write some of the examples of positive radicals as $N{a^ + }$, $F{e^{2 + }}$,$A{g^ + }$,$A{l^{3 + }}$,$C{r^{3 + }}$,$A{u^{3 + }}$,$S{n^{2 + }}$.


Note: One should not get confused with radicals and ions. An ion contains a different number of electrons when compared to protons. In radicals the number of electrons is odd and one electron is not paired up. One of the most common radical cations in organic chemistry is methenium cation is $C{H_3}^ + $. A methanol radical cation divides into $C{H_3}^ + $ and hydroxyl cation. Radical cations are seen in conducting polymers.