Photochemistry and Radiation Chemistry of Fluorobenzene in Aqueous and Other Solutions

Abstract

ONE of the problems in the radiation chemistry of solutions, and aqueous solutions in particular, is whether the chemical changes observed are due to ionization processes and free radical formation, or to excitation processes (which would resemble photochemical reactions). In a previous investigation¹ we discussed the action of ionizing radiations, compared with that of ultra-violet light on aqueous solutions of benzene. It was shown that in this case the action of ionizing radiations led to the formation of products different from that of ultra-violet light and, in particular, the pH-dependence of the two processes was entirely different. It was thus possible to differentiate between the two reaction mechanisms and to show that at least in dilute solutions excitation processes do not significantly contribute to the effects of ionizing radiations.