free radical
Reactive molecular fragment
A free radical is an atom or molecule with an unpaired electron, making it highly reactive and unstable.
In chemistry and biology, free radicals can damage cells and are implicated in aging and disease: Antioxidants neutralize free radicals.
The term also describes a person who acts independently and unconventionally, unbound by institutional constraints: She was a free radical in the department, ignoring protocol.
Weakly attracted to magnets
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- orbitalRevolving around another
- bond cleavageBreaking molecular connections
- valenceCombining power measure
triplet · singlet · resonance · stability · intermediate · half-life · chain reaction · propagation
Charged oxygen radical
- nitric oxideReactive nitrogen-oxygen compound
- hydrogen peroxideOxidizing disinfectant and bleach
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
- phagocytesCells that engulf debris
Injury to genetic material
- cell membraneOuter layer of cytoplasm
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- agingGrowing older over time
- inflammationProtective tissue response
neurodegeneration · carcinogenesis · apoptosis · mitochondrial · tissue damage · crosslinking · pathology
Energy propagation through space
- UV lightInvisible solar radiation
- smokingInhaling burning tobacco
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- ozoneTriatomic oxygen allotrope
pesticides · industrial chemicals · heavy metals · combustion · ionizing radiation · X-rays · environmental toxins · metabolism
Essential water-soluble antioxidant
- vitamin EFat-soluble antioxidant nutrient
- glutathioneSulfur-containing cellular antioxidant
- beta-caroteneOrange plant pigment
- seleniumElement number thirty-four
flavonoids · polyphenols · coenzyme Q10 · catalase · scavenger · neutralization · defense · protection
paramagnetic
Weakly attracted to magnets
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- orbitalRevolving around another
- bond cleavageBreaking molecular connections
valence · triplet · singlet · resonance · stability · intermediate · half-life · chain reaction · propagation · termination
superoxide
Charged oxygen radical
- nitric oxideReactive nitrogen-oxygen compound
- hydrogen peroxideOxidizing disinfectant and bleach
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
phagocytes · immune response · signaling · metabolism · endogenous
DNA damage
Injury to genetic material
- cell membraneOuter layer of cytoplasm
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- agingGrowing older over time
inflammation · neurodegeneration · carcinogenesis · apoptosis · mitochondrial · tissue damage · crosslinking · pathology
radiation
Energy propagation through space
- UV lightInvisible solar radiation
- smokingInhaling burning tobacco
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
ozone · pesticides · industrial chemicals · heavy metals · combustion · ionizing radiation · X-rays · environmental toxins · metabolism · inflammation
vitamin C
Essential water-soluble antioxidant
- vitamin EFat-soluble antioxidant nutrient
- glutathioneSulfur-containing cellular antioxidant
- beta-caroteneOrange plant pigment
selenium · flavonoids · polyphenols · coenzyme Q10 · catalase · scavenger · neutralization · defense · protection · curcumin
- Reactive Intermediatessuperoxide
- reaction mechanismsbond breaking, bond cleavage, SN1, SN2, elimination
- Redox Biologysuperoxide, hydrogen peroxide, glutathione, antioxidant, antioxidants
- Oxidizersoxygen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine
- polymerspolymer, elastomers, monomer, polyurethane foam, silicone rubber
- radicalssquare root, cube root, radicand, superoxide, nth root
free radicalantioxidant
Oxidation-preventing molecule
stabilizer · inert gas · reducing agent · quencher · inhibitor
free, freedom, radical, freer, freest, radicalism, radicals, unfree, radicalize