Radical (Atomic)

Today it is known that radicals are formed when a stable molecule is disrupted and split into two portions, each with an unpaired electrons. A variety of effects can generate this disruption including thermal decomposition, electric or microwave discharge, photochemical decomposition, electrolysis, and gamma or x-ray exposure. The free radical process involves three steps: initiation where the free radical is formed; propagation in which the radicals react with other molecules to form additional free radicals; and termination where the radicals react with each other to form non-radical products.