Dr. Neelam from the chemistry department presented on free radicals. There are two types of cleavage - homolytic and heterolytic. Free radicals are generated through photochemical, thermal, and decomposition reactions. They are electron deficient and reactive. The mechanism of halogenation of ethane by free radicals was also discussed, including the initiation, propagation, and termination steps. The document concluded by covering differences between iodination, fluorination, chlorination, and bromination of alkanes.