Topic summary
Reactive oxygen species
In chemistry and biology, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive chemicals formed from diatomic oxygen (O2), water, and hydrogen peroxide. Some prominent ROS are the hydroperoxide radical or hydroperoxyl (HO2), superoxide (O2), the hydroxyl radical (OH), and singlet oxygen (O2). ROS are pervasive because they are readily produced from O2, which is abundant.
Biologically, ROS function as cell signals, are intermediates in the redox behavior of O2, and impact the process of aging.