What is the Difference Between Acidic Radical and Basic Radical?

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The main difference between acidic radicals and basic radicals lies in their charges and the chemical species they are derived from. Here are the key differences:

  • Acidic Radicals:
  • Negatively charged radicals derived from an acid during a neutralization reaction.
  • Formed by the removal of hydrogen ions (H+).
  • Examples include the formation of the Cl⁻ ion from hydrochloric acid (HCl → Cl⁻ + H⁺).
  • Basic Radicals:
  • Positively charged radicals derived from a base during the formation of an inorganic salt.
  • Formed by the removal of the hydroxide ion (OH⁻).
  • Examples include the formation of the Na⁺ ion from sodium hydroxide (NaOH → Na⁺ + OH⁻).

In summary, acidic radicals are negatively charged and come from an acid, while basic radicals are positively charged and come from a base. These radicals play crucial roles in various chemical reactions and classifications.

Comparative Table: Acidic Radical vs Basic Radical

The main difference between acidic and basic radicals lies in their charges and the way they are formed. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences between acidic radicals and basic radicals:

Acidic Radical Basic Radical
Negatively charged Positively charged
Formed by removing hydrogen ions (H+) from an acid Formed by removing hydroxide ions (OH-) from a base
Constitute the anion part of inorganic salts Constitute the cation part of inorganic salts
Examples: Cl-, SO4 2-, NO3 -, HCO3 - Examples: Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+

To summarize, acidic radicals are negatively charged species formed by removing hydrogen ions from an acid, while basic radicals are positively charged species formed by removing hydroxide ions from a base. Acidic and basic radicals together form inorganic salts, with the acidic radicals constituting the anion part and the basic radicals constituting the cation part of the salts.