Ions and free radicals

[ck1]

Whats the difference..?

[theprof]

Ions are electrically charged atoms, molecules, radicles or groups of the same that have gained or lost one or more electrons. As a result of this process, they will have gained a net negative or positive charge.

Atoms possessing a net positive charge are called cations, whilst those with a net negative charge are termed anions.

Free Radicals may be thought of as atoms or molecules containing a minimum of one unpaired electron. Free radicals are very unstable and the majority are very short lived independently although there are exceptions. All free radicals eventually either adopt another electron or donate one and thus become stable, but they are then no longer free radicals.

Free radicals are produced during normal cellular metabolism. They are highly reactive due to the unpaired electron and because they have a remarkable talent for oxidising other molecules they encounter, they are thought to be responsible for tissue damage and disease in the body. Fortunately, a number of enzymes are reasonably good at neutralising their effects.

During illness, the body sometimes produces an excess of free radicals. Other factors such as cigarette smoke, sunlamps, gas exposure and some forms of pollution have been demonstrated to increase free radical production.

Research has shown that a number of diseases may be linked to excess free radical production. These include various types of dementia, atherosclerosis and some arthritic diseases but there are a whole host of others.

Antioxidants are known to be effective in counteracting the effects of free radicals not mopped up by enzymes in the body. Favourable results have been shown with Vitamins C and E in particular as well as beta-carotene, selenium, zinc and a number of other substances. These substances convert free radicals into stable compounds.

[Peter Pedant]

you may think that if there is an unpaired electron, then it has to charges

butbut but

draw a simple H2 mol, two circle bullseyes and XX down the centre to represent the shared electron

and then pull them apart, so you have two versions of a proton circled by an electron

No charges anywhere, but the electron is unpaired, and hascent hydrogen is pretty reactive, I recall