Everyday EPR: Free Radicals, Captured

EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) spectroscopy is the only technique that unambiguously detects and quantifies species with unpaired electrons. These include free radicals, many transition metals, and defects in materials. Free radicals and transition metals play crucial roles in many processes such as photosynthesis, oxidation/reduction, catalysis, and polymerization reactions. As a result EPR crosses many disciplines such as medical science, biology, chemistry, physics, material science, archeology and forensics.