title: Gamma-radiolysis of N2O-saturated formate solutions. A chain reaction.
abstract: In the radiolysis of aqueous formate-containing solutions a chain reaction (i, ii) proceeds in the presence of N2O. CO2-. + N2O + H2O----CO2 + N2 + .OH + OH- (i) .OH + HCO2-.----CO2-. + H2O (ii) The chain length depends on the dose rate and the N2O concentration but not on the formate concentration. Typically, G(CO2) approximately 140 molecules (100 eV)-1 is found, with an equivalent amount of N2, at a dose rate of 3 X 10(-3) Gy s-1. The rate constant for the rate-determining step in this chain reaction has been calculated at k(i) = 1600 dm3 mol-1 s-1. The possible relevance of this chain reaction in radiation biological studies is briefly discussed.
mesh_terms: D005561:Formates / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D005561:Formates; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D009609:Nitrous Oxide