Nature of the Precursors of Molecular Products in the Radiation Chemistry of Water
Research on radiation chemistry of water is reviewed with respect to the precursors of molecular hydrogen. Evidence is presented that the primary reducing species is the hydrated electron, H/sub 2/O-, and that molecular hydrogen is formed by two mechanisms, the major one being recombination of H/sub 2/O- and the minor one being recombination of H atoms formed by H/sup +/ reacting with H/sub 2/O-. (D.J.C.)