Question

How is an ion different from radical? Give suitable example.

Answer 1

Ions are the one having either less electron or more electron than the element have. Ions may be cation or anion. Cations are produced by lose of electron and anions are produced by gain of electron. For ex., Na loses one electron and it becomes Na⁺ cation whereas Chlorine gains one electron and it becomes Cl^- anion.

Radicals are having one electron excess. For ex., Cl-Cl cleaves and it is formed as Cl^. free radical.