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Glite Dictionary
ethyl radical

ethyl radical

7.5
A small reactive group of two carbon and five hydrogen atoms that forms when ethane loses one hydrogen atom
  • noun
  • /ˈɛθəl ˈrædɪkəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : radical etilo
  • Scientists detected the presence of an ethyl radical in the reaction flask.

Examples

  • During combustion, the formation of the ethyl radical can initiate chain reactions.

  • The ethyl radical is crucial in organic chemistry.

  • The ethyl radical plays an important role in many organic reactions.

  • Can you explain what an ethyl radical is?

  • The formation of the ethyl radical is essential for the reaction to proceed in organic chemistry.

  • Researchers observed that an ethyl radical can react with pollutants to help clean the environment.

  • In the laboratory, the stability of the ethyl radical is often tested under various conditions.

Synonyms

ethyl
vsethyl radical
  • Specialized
5 7.7

A group of atoms in a molecule made of two carbon atoms and five hydrogen atoms

emphasizes it as a reactive group derived by removing one hydrogen

Surface Forms

ethyl radical singular
ethyl radicals plural

Morphology

ethyl + radical

The term is directly compositional: 'ethyl' names the C2H5 group and 'radical' denotes a reactive chemical species, so 'ethyl radical' straightforwardly means the C2H5 radical. While technical, the meaning follows regular chemical noun+noun compounding and would be predictable to a learner who already knows both constituent words.

Etymology

The chemical name ethyl radical combines the small two-carbon group ethyl with the older word radical, which meant 'root' or a part that stays together. Imagine a tiny two-carbon 'root' C2H5 that has lost a hydrogen and is very eager to join other atoms, so today ethyl radical means 'a reactive group of atoms'.