Bromine was the only halogen formed in irradiated mixtures of HC1 and HBr. A study of its effect on the hydrogen yield from HC1 showed that it reacted with the first hydrogenforming species (or its precursor), and indicated the same yield for this species as did the earlier experiments with chlorine. The results were consistent with thermal hydrogen atoms, formed in the reaction as the first hydrogen-forming species, and hot hydrogen atoms, resulting from the dissociation of excited HC1 molecules, as the second species.The hydrogen yield from liquid HBr a t -79' C was a factor of two larger than that from liquid HC1 a t the same temperature, and in mixtures of the two the hydrogen yield increased gradually from a value characteristic of pure HCl ( G H~ = 6.5) t o one characteristic of pure HBr ( G H~ = 12.4). The smaller yield from HC1 cannot be explained by radical combinations:in the radiation tracks and must be attributed either t o differences in the ion-combination reactions in the two liquids or to a genuinely greater yield of ions and/or dissociative excited molecules in HBr. The hydrogen yield from solid HBr a t -196' C was C;HZ = 10.5.X recent publication (1) from this laboratory described a study of the radiolysis of liquid and solid hydrogen chloride. This paper reports the results of a similar study of the radiolysis of hydrogen bromide, and also presents further evidence for the existence of two hydrogen-forming species in irradiated hydrogen chloride. Because the decomposition yield of hydrogen bromide was found to be twice that of hydrogen chloride, hydrogen and halogen yields in mixtures of the two were also studied in the hope that a reason for the difference in radiation sensitivity of the two compounds would become apparent.
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HaterialsHydrogen chloride and hydrogen bromide were obtained from the Matheson Co. and purified b y the preirradiation procedure already described. Reagent grade bromine was thoroughly dried by treatment with CaC12 and subjected to several bulb-to-bulb distillations. I t was stored over PsOs a t -80" C.
ApparatztsThe apparatus and technique used for the preparation of samples and measurement of hydrogen yields were essentially as previously described. In this study a spectroscopic technique was also employed t o observe the halogen production in the irradiated mixtures. Optical cells, which were shielded from the direct Co" beam during irradiations, were attached t o the pyrex irradiation cells. On completion of an irradiation the hydrogen halide -halogen solution was transferred to the optical cell, where its spectrum over the range 3000-5000 A was taken with a Beckman D.U. spectrometer fitted with a cell compartment for use a t -80" C. This consisted of a n aluminum block machined t o receive the optical cell and to permit passage of the light beam. The block was insulated with styrofoain on all sides and attachcd t o two plates, which were bolted to the monochromator and photocell of the D.U. spectrometer. Quartz plates isolated the cell...