Spin trapping

Spin trapping is a clever chemical technique that scientists use to detect and study highly reactive molecules called free radicals, which are normally too unstable to observe directly. When a special "trap" molecule is added to a sample, it quickly reacts with free radicals and converts them into more stable compounds that can be analyzed using a technique called electron spin resonance spectroscopy. This allows researchers to identify which free radicals are present and understand their role in everything from disease processes to food spoilage to industrial chemical reactions.