What is the free radical in oxidation process?

Question

What is the free radical in oxidation process?

Answer 1

Free radicals are oxidants because they are open-shelled species that can inherently accept an electron to become closed-shell.  Often they then become highly basic and accept H(+) from the surrounding (aqueous) reaction medium.

Answer 2

"In chemistry, radicals (often referred to as free radicals) are atoms, molecules or ions with unpaired electrons on an otherwise open shell configuration. These unpaired electrons are usually highly reactive, so radicals are likely to take part in chemical reactions."

"In written chemical equations, free radicals are frequently denoted by a dot placed immediately to the right of the atomic symbol or molecular formula as follows:

Cl2  --> uv light--> 2 Cl.

Chlorine gas can be broken down by ultraviolet light to form atomic chlorine radicals. "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_radica...

these free rads will take electrons readily, "oxidizers"