Radical Facts for Kids

Radical, a word that comes from the Late Latin word radicalis (meaning "of roots") and the Latin word radix (meaning "root"), can refer to several different things. It often means something that goes to the very basic or fundamental part of something.

In Science and Math

Radicals in Chemistry

In chemistry, a radical (also called a free radical) is a special kind of atom, molecule, or ion. These particles have at least one unpaired electron. This makes them very reactive, meaning they are likely to take part in chemical reactions with other substances.

Radical Symbol in Math

The radical symbol (√) is a mathematical sign. You usually see it when you need to find the square root of a number. For example, √9 means "what number multiplied by itself equals 9?" The answer is 3. It can also be used for other roots, like the cube root.

Radical of an Integer

In number theory, the radical of an integer is a concept related to its prime factors. For any whole number, its radical is the product of all its unique prime factors. For example, the prime factors of 12 are 2, 2, and 3. The unique prime factors are 2 and 3. So, the radical of 12 is 2 × 3 = 6.

In Medicine

Radical Surgery

In medicine, radical surgery refers to a type of operation that is very extensive. It is often performed in serious situations, like removing a large tumor or treating a severe disease. The goal is to remove as much of the problem as possible, even if it means removing a lot of tissue around it.

In Language

Word Roots in Linguistics

In linguistics (the study of language), a root is sometimes called a radical. This is the most basic form of a word. It's what's left after you remove any prefixes (like "un-" or "re-") or suffixes (like "-ing" or "-ed"). For example, in the word "unbelievable," the root or radical is "believe."

Chinese Character Radicals

A radical in a Chinese character is a part of the character that helps you find it in a dictionary. It's like an index or a category. Many Chinese characters are made up of two or more parts, and one of these parts is usually the radical. It can also give a hint about the character's meaning.

Semitic Roots

In Semitic languages (like Arabic or Hebrew), a radical refers to one of the three consonants that form the basic meaning of a word. These three consonants stay the same, but vowels and other letters are added around them to create different words with related meanings.

Radical Consonants

A radical consonant is a type of sound made in speech. It's a consonant sound that is produced using the very back part of your tongue, called the root of the tongue.

In Politics

Political Radicalism

Political radicalism is a way of thinking that supports big changes in society or government. People who are considered "radical" often want to change things from their very roots, rather than just making small adjustments.

Historical Radicalism

Radicalism (historical) refers to a political movement that started in Britain in the late 1700s. It then spread to other parts of Europe and Latin America in the 1800s. These early radicals wanted major reforms, like more voting rights for ordinary people and changes to the government system.

Radical Left and Right

Sometimes, the terms radical left and radical right are used.

Radical left is another way to describe the far-left in politics. This group often supports very strong social and economic equality, sometimes through revolutionary changes.
Radical right is another way to describe the far-right in politics. This group often supports very traditional values and strong national identity, sometimes through authoritarian means.

Radical Whigs

The Radical Whigs were influential writers in early British history. They helped shape the ideas behind radicalism. They often wrote about individual liberties and the need to limit government power.

Radical Reformation

The Radical Reformation was a religious movement that happened at the same time as the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s. Groups like the Anabaptists were part of this movement. They often had different beliefs and practices than the mainstream Protestant reformers.

Radical Republicans

The Radical Republicans were an important group of American politicians during the American Civil War and the period after it, known as Reconstruction. They strongly pushed for civil rights for formerly enslaved people and wanted to punish the Southern states that had seceded.

Radical Feminism

Radical feminism is a part of the feminist movement. It focuses on the idea that patriarchy (a system where men hold most of the power) is the main cause of inequality between men and women. Radical feminists believe that society needs fundamental changes to overcome this system.

In Culture

Radical Chic

Radical chic is a term that was created by writer Tom Wolfe. It describes when famous people, socialites, or wealthy individuals pretend to support radical political causes. They might do this to seem fashionable or trendy, rather than genuinely believing in the cause.

Brands and Names

Radical Sportscars is an English company that makes high-performance sports cars.
Radical Entertainment was a company that developed video games. It was based in Vancouver, Canada.
Free Radical Design was another video game developer, located in Nottingham, England.
Free Radicals (band) is a jazz-funk music group from Houston, Texas.
Radical (Smack album) is the fourth studio album by the band Smack, released in 1988.

Radical facts for kids

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