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Glite Dictionary
vinyl radical

vinyl radical

8.8
A small chemical group with formula CH2=CH− that reacts easily in making plastics
  • noun
  • /ˈvaɪnəl ˈrædɪkəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : radical vinílico
  • The vinyl radical is crucial in the polymerization process used to create plastics.

Examples

  • In organic chemistry, the vinyl radical often acts as an intermediate in various reactions.

  • OK, So we get this vinyl radical which is bent, right.

  • The formation of a vinyl radical can lead to the creation of new compounds in synthesis.

Surface Forms

vinyl radical singular
vinyl radicals plural

Morphology

vinyl + radical

The phrase is a straightforward noun phrase combining the chemical modifier 'vinyl' (the –CH=CH2 group) with the head noun 'radical' (a reactive species); its meaning — a radical species centered on a vinyl group — is directly derivable from the constituents. Although technical, the composition follows regular modifier+noun naming in chemistry, so a learner who knows the given constituent senses can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Vinyl radical comes from chemistry and names a tiny, very active part of a molecule. Think of vinyl as the small two-carbon piece and radical as an 'open' hand or bond that is ready to 'grab' or 'join' another atom, so the name explains why this group easily reacts to make new molecules.