Preferred Label : radical ion;
IUPAC definition : A radical that carries an electric charge. A positively charged radical is called
a 'radical cation' (e.g. the benzene radical cation C sub 6 /sub H sub 6 /sub ·
sup class plus /sup ); a negatively charged radical is called a 'radical anion'
(e.g. the benzene radical anion C sub 6 /sub H sub 6 /sub · sup class minus
/sup or the benzophenone radical anion Ph sub 2 /sub C–O· sup class minus
/sup ). Commonly, but not necessarily, the odd electron and the charge are associated
with the same atom. Unless the positions of unpaired spin and charge can be associated
with specific atoms, superscript dot and charge designations should be placed in the
order · sup class plus /sup or · sup class minus /sup suggested
by the name 'radical ion'. (e.g. C sub 3 /sub H sub 6 /sub · sup class plus
/sup ).;
Scope note : in the previous edition of this compendium, it was recommended to place the charge
designation directly above the centrally placed dot. however, this format is now discouraged
because of the difficulty of extending it to ions bearing more than one charge, and/or
more than one unpaired electron. in mass spectroscopic usage the symbol for the charge
precedes the dot representing the unpaired electron.;
Origin ID : R05073;
See also
A radical that carries an electric charge. A positively charged radical is called
a 'radical cation' (e.g. the benzene radical cation C sub 6 /sub H sub 6 /sub ·
sup class plus /sup ); a negatively charged radical is called a 'radical anion'
(e.g. the benzene radical anion C sub 6 /sub H sub 6 /sub · sup class minus
/sup or the benzophenone radical anion Ph sub 2 /sub C–O· sup class minus
/sup ). Commonly, but not necessarily, the odd electron and the charge are associated
with the same atom. Unless the positions of unpaired spin and charge can be associated
with specific atoms, superscript dot and charge designations should be placed in the
order · sup class plus /sup or · sup class minus /sup suggested
by the name 'radical ion'. (e.g. C sub 3 /sub H sub 6 /sub · sup class plus
/sup ).
