Unstable intermediates. Part LXX. An electron spin resonance study of silver radicals trapped in frozen aqueous sulphuric acid

Abstract

The low-temperature irradiation of frozen aqueous sulphuric acid containing Ag^I salts results in the formation of two inequivalent Ag⁰ species. The more abundant radical has magnetic properties characteristic of an aquated complex, whereas the second species has an unusual, but highly specific structure. When the irradiated samples are annealed the isolated silver radicals aggregate to form polynuclear species which have the properties expected for Ag₄⁺ or Ag₄³⁺.