Which type of bond fission produces free radicals?

• A. Bond breaking so that both electrons go to the same atom
• B. Bond breaking where one electron goes to each atom forming free radicals
• C. Breaking of ionic bond
• D. Ionization by removing electrons

Answer: (B)

Free radicals come from homolytic bond fission. When a covalent bond breaks evenly, each atom takes one electron from the shared pair, leaving unpaired electrons on both fragments. Those unpaired electrons are the radicals. If the bond breaks heterolytically, both electrons go to one atom, producing ions instead of radicals. Breaking an ionic bond or ionizing by removing electrons also yields ions, not radicals. So the scenario described as each fragment retaining one electron is the process that produces free radicals. For example, Cl2 can split into two Cl• radicals under light.