hydroxyl radical
- noun
- /haɪˈdrɒksɪl ˈrædɪkəl/
- Specialized
:
radical hidroxilo
- Additional trace gases that destroy ozone in the stratosphere by chemical reactions include bromine (Br), nitric oxide (NO), and the hydroxyl radical (OH).
Examples
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The hydroxyl radical formed from the chemical transformation of water vapor leads to the destruction of stratospheric ozone.
Academic text (1992) -
Methane reactions produce the water vapor that releases the hydroxyl radical in the stratosphere.
Academic text (1992) -
As I pointed out in my last column, radiation kills by mutating life-sustaining water molecules (H2O) into cell-killing hydroxyl radicals (OH).
Academic text (1992) -
The hydroxyl radical plays a crucial role in the atmospheric reactions that break down pollutants.
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In the laboratory, scientists use the hydroxyl radical to initiate important chemical reactions.
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Research shows that the hydroxyl radical is essential for understanding the dynamics of climate change.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The term is fully compositional: 'hydroxyl' denotes the OH (oxygen+hydrogen) group and 'radical' denotes a highly reactive species with an unpaired electron, so their combination straightforwardly refers to a reactive OH species (•OH). This follows standard chemical naming conventions, making the meaning predictable for learners who know both constituent definitions.
Etymology
The noun hydroxyl radical comes from its parts: hydroxyl means 'one oxygen and one hydrogen' and radical shows it is 'very reactive', so the name describes a tiny oxygen and hydrogen unit that reacts quickly with other molecules.
