Solute effects in the radiolysis of cyclohexane solutions. Part II. Electron scavenging by nitrous oxide and aromatic compounds

Abstract

The gaseous products of the γ-radiolysis, at relatively low dose, of solutions of nitrous oxide in cyclohexane have been determined as a function of concentration. The results clearly indicate that nitrous oxide can scavenge a precursor of molecular hydrogen, and that this precursor is the electron. Nitrous oxide may be used as a specific scavenger of electrons produced in the radiolysis of cyclohexane, and the relative electron affinities, EA_N2O, of a number of aromatic hydrocarbons have been determined. In most cases the values were directly related to the gas-phase electron affinities, determined by Lovelock's method. A comparison is made between other studies of the effect of solutes on G(H₂) and the effects of nitrous oxide.