Reactive Forms of Oxygen

Abstract

Research into the chemical and physical properties of at least ten forms of “active oxygen” is frequently encountered in today’s scientific literature (see Table 1). Much of this diverse effort is unified in its attempt to illuminate the fundamental, or primary, chemical processes attending activated oxygen reactions. Gross features of chemical reactivity have been delineated in the last decade for a number of these species, most prominent among them oxygen atoms, singlet molecular oxygen, and ozone. This wealth of experimental research has made possible inquiry of a more detailed nature into reaction mechanisms and dynamics of active forms of oxygen.