Unstable intermediates. Part LXXXV. Electron spin resonance study of γ-irradiated sodium chlorate: librating chlorine dioxide

Abstract

The e.s.r. spectrum of γ-irradiated sodium chlorate at 19 K shows features characteristic of chlorine dioxide. These change, reversibly, on warming to room temperature to give features previously assigned to chlorine trioxide. The two sets of data can be directly linked on the assumption that at room temperature, chlorine dioxide molecules are rotating about the C_3v axis of the chlorate ions from which they were derived.