MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF FREE RADICALS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN BIOLOGICAL REACTIONS

The purpose of this brief review is to provide anaesthetists with a simple introduction to the chemistry of free radicals and a reference to fundamental information which may not be readily available in a medical library. Although the emphasis is on oxygen, general considerations apply to a wide range of free radicals and it is certain that, with the continuing research in this field, the crucial role of these chemical species in normal and pathological biochemical processes will become increasingly apparent.