Conversion of Solvated Electrons into Hydrogen Atoms in the Photo- and Radiation Chemistry of Aqueous Solutions

Radiation chemical and photochemical experiments are reported which show that the conversion of solvated electrons to H atoms is not specific to the H3O+ ion. Proton donors in general may react in the conversion eaq—→H. The relative reaction rates correlate with the pK values of these acids as implied by Brønsted general acid catalysis law. The implications of this result for the nature of the solvated electron in water are briefly considered.