Photochemistry of aqueous solutions of nitric oxide at 1849 Å

Abstract

Solutions of NO in H₂O and in D₂O have been photolyzed with 1849 Å light. The products are HNO₂, N₂O and N₂. By comparison with the radiolysis of NO and from other data, including the high absorption coefficient of NO in aqueous solution, it is shown that three primary processes are involved : H₂O+hν→H+OH…(1), NO+hν→N(⁴S)+O(³P)…(2), and NO_aq+hν→NO^–+H₂O⁺…(9). Assuming ϕ₂= 0.3 (based on energy absorbed only by water) then the quantum yields of (2) and (9) are approximately ϕ₂= 0.03 and ϕ₉= 0.25 both for H₂O and D₂O solutions, based on energy absorbed only by NO.