Which statement about free radicals is false?

• A. Free radicals can be formed during homolytic bond cleavage.
• B. Free radicals always have a negative charge.
• C. Free radicals are generally highly reactive species.
• D. Free radicals contain at least one unpaired electron.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand what a free radical is. A free radical is a species that contains at least one unpaired electron, making it highly reactive.
2. Step 2: Review the process of homolytic bond cleavage. This type of bond breaking results in each atom retaining one electron from the bond, thus forming free radicals.
3. Step 3: Analyze the charge of free radicals. Free radicals are neutral species because they have an unpaired electron but do not necessarily carry a charge; they can be neutral, positively charged, or negatively charged depending on the context, but they are not always negatively charged.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the statements given: (a) Free radicals can be formed during homolytic bond cleavage — this is true. (b) Free radicals always have a negative charge — this is false because free radicals are not always negatively charged. (c) Free radicals are generally highly reactive species — this is true due to the presence of an unpaired electron. (d) Free radicals contain at least one unpaired electron — this is true by definition.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the false statement is the one claiming free radicals always have a negative charge, as this is not a defining characteristic of free radicals.