Reaction between free radicals and water Free-radical substitution does not occur in aqueous solution as free radicals react with water (from school textbook). What does the reaction between free radicals, say Br, and water produce?
Bromine radical reacts with water

$$\ce{Br* + H2O -&gt; HBr + *OH}$$

OH radical reacts with bromine

$$\ce{*OH + Br2 -&gt; BrOH + Br*}$$

to give a new bromine radical, and so on, until the bromine is totally consumed.