Which entities are formed during the free radical mechanism ?

Options

A. Carbanion
B. Carbocation
C. Fr radicals
D. Atoms

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding Free Radicals**: Free radicals are highly reactive species that contain unpaired electrons. They are formed during various chemical reactions, including the free radical mechanism.

2. **Initiation Step**: In the free radical mechanism, the first step is the initiation step, where free radicals are generated. For example, when chlorine (Cl2) is exposed to sunlight, it undergoes homolytic cleavage, resulting in the formation of two chlorine free radicals (Cl•).

3. **Propagation Steps**: Once free radicals are formed, they can react with other molecules. For instance, a chlorine free radical can react with a methane molecule (CH4) to form a methyl radical (CH3•) and hydrochloric acid (HCl). This step continues as the methyl radical can further react with another chlorine molecule, producing chloromethane (CH3Cl) and another chlorine free radical.

4. **Termination Steps**: The free radical mechanism can end in termination steps, where two free radicals combine to form a stable molecule. For example, two methyl radicals can combine to form ethane (C2H6), or two chlorine radicals can combine to form Cl2.

5. **Entities Formed**: The entities formed during the free radical mechanism include:
- Free radicals (e.g., Cl•, CH3•)
- Stable molecules (e.g., HCl, CH3Cl, C2H6)

**Final Answer**: The entities formed during the free radical mechanism are free radicals and stable molecules.

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