Radiation-Induced Reactions in the N 2 -O 2 -H 2 O System

The exposure of moist nitrogen-oxygen mixtures to electron bombardment was shown to lead directly to the formation of nitric acid and nitrous oxide. After complete exhaustion of the water, the nitric acid disappeared with the formation of water and a stoichiometric amount of nitrogen dioxide. Subsequent to the decomposition of the nitric acids nitrogen dioxide was produced at a much lower rate, and the total nitrogen fixation yield was decreased. The production and destruction of nitric acid were linear functions of the energy input, as was the formation of nitrogen dioxide from the nitric acid. There was a marked dependence of the G values for all these chemical changes on the oxygcn concentration, with maximum values reached in every case at about 15 mole % oxygen. (auth)