Radiolysis of liquid nitrous oxide

Abstract

The product yields from the y radiolysis of liquid nitrous oxide at 183 K were G(N2) = 13.1 ± 0.2, G(02) 2.7 ± 0.1, and G(N02) = 5.6 ± 0.2. Addition of nitrogen dioxide (dinitrogen tetroxjde) to the liquid decreased the oxygen yield to zero and the nitrogen yield to an extrapolated limit of 5 ± 1 units. Nitrogen dioxide scavenges electrons and probably positive charge and oxygen atoms in liquid nitrous oxide. Carbon dioxide has no effect on the product yields from nitrous oxide. Sulfur hexafluoride decreases the oxygen yield to zero and the nitrogen yield to 10 ± 1 units. Sulfur hexafluoride scavenges electrons and possibly oxygen atoms in liquid nitrous oxide.

Radiolysis of Liquid Nitrous Oxide: Alcohol and Carbonyl Additives

“…1 and 2 are listed in Table 2. The solutes methanol, ethanol, and acetaldehyde gave g(N2)g',"A = 10.6 f 0.5, the same as the value obtained with many hydrocarbons (2).…”

“…Results The present article is a continuation of a study Nitrogen Yields of the radiolysis of liquid nitrous oxide (1,2).…”

“…A plot of G(N,) against E, has an approximately linear central portion (2). Extrapolation of this portion to the left axis gives the yield of nitrogen from the direct radiolysis of nitrous oxide that cannot be reduced by the solute.…”

“…Extrapolation of this portion to the left axis gives the yield of nitrogen from the direct radiolysis of nitrous oxide that cannot be reduced by the solute. The phenomenological name given to this yield was the "plateau" value g(~2)g',"d (2). Extrapolation of the linear portion of the plot to the right axis gives g(N,),, the yield of nitrogen obtained from the reaction of nitrous oxide with electrons generated by radiolysis of the solute (2).…”

“…Addition of an organic solute RH apparently reduces the nitrogen yield by way of [2] (2) The ionization potentials of the organic solutes (6 ,7) are lower than that of nitrous oxide (Table 2), so the charge transfer [2] is exothermic.…”