TBR Test 5: Oxygen Radicals

[Chocolatebear89]

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31. Oxygen free radicals can cross-link with proteins, and they can interfere with the integrity of lipid membranes. What makes the O2• free radical so reactive is its ability to:
A. gain 2 electrons to fill its octet.
B. gain 1 electron to fill its octet.
C. react with O• to form ozone.
D. lose 1 electron to fill its octet.

 

[golgiapparatus88]

If its •O2 ( •O-O• ) then it should be gaining 2 electrons total. For example, •O2 can bond with two protons to create hydrogen peroxide H2O2.

 

[Chocolatebear89]

According to TBR, the answer is B. It just says that it needs to gain one electron to fill octet.

 

[golgiapparatus88]

Hum, good to know! I guess any time we read about a free-radical just put 1 unpaired electron.