Free radicals and ions are quite different. Consider the .OH radical and -OH ion.
.OH radical - no charge, one unpaired electron
-OH ion - negative charge, no unpaired electron
Radicals have an unpaired electron, ions have a charge. They may or may not occur alongside one another. You can have ionized free radicals but it’s not always the case, as shown in the example above.
Free radicals and ions are quite different. Consider the .OH radical and -OH ion.
.OH radical - no charge, one unpaired electron
-OH ion - negative charge, no unpaired electron
Radicals have an unpaired electron, ions have a charge. They may or may not occur alongside one another. You can have ionized free radicals but it’s not always the case, as shown in the example above.