Chemistry · Covalent bond fission: Homolytic and heterolytic, free radicals, carbocations and carbanions, stability of carbocations and free radicals, electrophiles and nucleophiles
The total number of electrons in the carbon atom of methyl free radical is:
The total number of electrons in the carbon atom of methyl free radical is:
- A. six
- B. seven
- C. eight
- D. nine
Step-by-step solution
Carbon has an atomic number of 6, so a neutral carbon atom has 6 electrons. In the methyl free radical (CH₃•), the carbon atom remains neutral and retains all 6 electrons: 2 core (1s²) and 4 valence (2s² 2p²). The unpaired electron is one of the valence electrons, not an additional electron. Therefore, the total number of electrons in the carbon atom is six.
Related MCQs
- Which of the following is a true property about…
- Arrange in the order of nucleophilicity:…
- Which of the following free radicals is the most stable?…
- Which of the following is organometalic compound…
- the first step involves the formation of:…