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Glite Dictionary
methyl radical

methyl radical

7.0
A very active group of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms with formula CH3, formed when methane loses one hydrogen
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛθəl ˈrædɪkəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : radical metilo
  • In organic chemistry, the methyl radical plays a crucial role as a reactive intermediate.

Examples

  • A methyl radical is often formed during the combustion of hydrocarbons.

  • The scientist used a methyl radical in the experiment to observe its reactivity.

  • The next step in the reaction path should be the reaction of the methyl radical with the complex, which is found to occur via TS XIII.

    Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

methyl
vsmethyl radical
  • Specialized
9 7.7

A small chemical part made of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms attached to other molecules

is a highly reactive intermediate formed by removing one hydrogen atom

Surface Forms

methyl radical singular
methyl radicals plural

Morphology

methyl + radical

The term is transparently compositional: 'methyl' denotes the CH3 chemical group and 'radical' denotes a reactive species with an unpaired electron, so together they refer to a radical species derived from a methyl group. Although technical, this noun–noun formation follows standard compositional chemistry naming (and similar constructions exist in many languages), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Methyl radical comes from a simple chemistry picture. Methyl is the small group left when a gas called methane loses one hydrogen, and radical used to mean a single, very active piece. So a methyl radical is a tiny, highly 'reactive' group that quickly joins other molecules.