Conceptual Considerations in Molecular Science

The undergraduate curriculum and associated textbooks include several significant misconceptions. The existence of charged atomic centers in condensed phases with ionic interactions (actually uncharged atomic centers with covalent bonds). Most oxidation–reduction reactions occur via electron transfer (actually occur via atom transfer). The Standard Reduction Potentials for multi-electron half-reactions are based on electrochemical electron-transfer measurements (actually are derived from thermo-chemical data for atom-transfer reactions). Dioxygen reacts as an electron-transfer oxidant (actually reacts as a biradical and atom-transfer reagent). Fenton reagents produce a free hydroxyl radical (HO•) (actually produce a nonradical reactive intermediate).