Radiation-induced Radicals in Water, Deuterium Oxide and Aqueous Solutions of Glycine at Low Temperatures

Abstract

WHEN aqueous solutions are exposed to ionizing radiation, free radicals are induced, which can be stabilized at low temperatures and studied by electron spin resonance technique. The resonance of water will be superimposed on the resonance from the solute, and in order to analyse the composite electron spin resonance spectra, the resonance pattern of water must be well known. The proposed primary products, for example, OH-radicals and hydrogen atoms, have recently been identified by electron spin resonance spectroscopy^1–3. Hydrogen atoms are stabilized in pure water at 4.2° K. (ref. 1) or in acidified water at 77° K. (ref. 2). Recently, Siegel et al.³ have found OH and OD radicals stabilized at 77° K. in water and deuterium oxide respectively.