Carbon-localized free radicals and cations are both highly unstable and undergo processes of chain rearrangement, C–C scission in position beta (i.e., cracking) and intra- and intermolecular hydrogen transfer or hydride transfer.
kˈɑːɹbənlˈoʊkəlˌaɪzd fɹˈiː ɹˈædɪkəlz ænd kˈæɾaɪənz ɑːɹ bˈoʊθ hˈaɪli ʌnstˈeɪbəl ænd ˌʌndɚɡˈoʊ pɹˈɑːsɛsᵻz ʌv tʃˈeɪn ɹˌiːɚɹˈeɪndʒmənt, sˈiː sˈiː sˈɪʃən ɪn pəzˈɪʃən bˈeɪɾə ˈaɪ.ˈiː., kɹˈækɪŋ ænd ˈɪntɹə ænd ˌɪntɚməlˈɛkjʊlɚ hˈaɪdɹədʒən tɹˈænsfɜː ɔːɹ hˈaɪdɹaɪd tɹˈænsfɜː.