Yields and reactions of hydrogen ions on radiolysis of water and aqueous solutions

Abstract

Yields of hydrogen ions have been measured by pulse radiolysis with optical registration of short-lived species and by use of chromate ions and pH indicators as scavengers of H₃O⁺. It was found that G(H₃O⁺) for the bulk of the solution (after the completion of reactions in spurs) is ∼3–3.3 ions/100 eV. Some reactions of H₃O⁺ ions were also studied by the pulse radiolysis method. The rate constants of their reactions with pH indicators—bromophenol blue, phenol red and bromothymol blue—were determined. They are 1.6 × 10¹⁰, 7.2 × 10¹⁰ and 8.8 × 10¹⁰ dm³ mol^–1 s^–1 respectively. The earlier conclusion that free hydrogen ions take no part in the formation of Cl^– during pulse radiolysis of neutral aqueous solution of alkaline metal chlorides was confirmed on the basis of results of the investigation of the influence of CrO^2–₄ additions and temperature on G(Cl^–₂).