Passage
Organic compounds mainly consist of covalent bonds. The electron pair in these covalent bonds may undergo displacement either of their own or under the influence of other species. The cleavage of covalent bond between two atoms takes place in homolytic or heterolytic fashion. The homolytic fission results into free radicals while heterolytic fission results into carbocations and carbanions. These are also called reaction intermediates and are attacked by electrophiles and nucleophiles. The electrophiles seek electron rich sites while nucleophiles seek electron deficient sites.
Answer the followings Questions :
The most stable free radical among the following is

Options

A. `C_6 H_5 CH_2 overset(*) CH_2`
B. `C_6 H_5 overset(*) CH CH_3`
C. `CH_(3) overset(*) CH_2`
D. `CH_(3) overset(*) CH CH_3`

Answer

To determine the most stable free radical among the given options, we need to analyze the stability of free radicals based on the substituents attached to the carbon atom that holds the unpaired electron. The stability of free radicals can be influenced by factors such as hyperconjugation and resonance.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Free Radicals**:
- We need to identify the structures of the free radicals provided in the question. Common examples include:
- A benzyl radical (C6H5-CH2•)
- A phenyl radical (C6H5•)
- An alkyl radical (like CH3-CH2•)
- A tertiary radical (like (CH3)3C•)

2. **Analyze Stability Factors**:
- **Hyperconjugation**: This is the stabilizing interaction that results from the overlap of the σ-bonds (C-H or C-C) with the empty p-orbital of the radical center. The more alkyl groups attached to the radical carbon, the more hyperconjugation can occur, leading to increased stability.
- **Resonance**: If the radical can delocalize its unpaired electron through resonance (as seen in benzyl radicals), it will be more stable. The resonance allows the radical to spread out the electron density over multiple atoms.

3. **Compare the Free Radicals**:
- **Benzyl Radical (C6H5-CH2•)**: The unpaired electron can be stabilized by resonance with the aromatic ring.
- **Phenyl Radical (C6H5•)**: The radical is directly on the aromatic ring, but it is less stable than the benzyl radical due to lack of hyperconjugation.
- **Alkyl Radicals**:
- **Primary Radical (CH3-CH2•)**: Least stable due to minimal hyperconjugation.
- **Secondary Radical (CH3-CH•-CH3)**: More stable than primary due to hyperconjugation from two methyl groups.
- **Tertiary Radical ((CH3)3C•)**: Most stable among alkyl radicals due to maximum hyperconjugation from three methyl groups.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Among the provided free radicals, the **Benzyl Radical (C6H5-CH2•)** is the most stable due to resonance stabilization.

### Final Answer:
The most stable free radical among the given options is the **Benzyl Radical (C6H5-CH2•)**.