Primary Products of Liquid Water Photolysis at 1236, 1470 and 1849 Å

The yield of the primary products of the liquid water photolysis at 1236 and 1470 Å is reported. It was found that besides the dissociation of the excited water molecules into H and OH radicals probably e−aq is also formed. The H and OH radicals were scavenged by means of formate, and the e−aq together with a part of H2O* by adding carbon dioxide. The quantum yields determined at 1236 Å, are: Φ(H, OH) = 1.03 & 0.02, 0.06 <Φ(e−aq, H2O*) < 0.12 and at 1470 Å,: Φ(H, OH)=0.72±0.02, 0.037 < Φ(e−aq, H2O*) <0.075. The quantum yield of high purity water at 1849 Å in the absence of any scavengers is Φ(H, OH)=0.022. Previously published data by us for 1849 Å are also given: Φ(H, OH)=0.33 ± 0.01 and 0.02 < Φ (e−aq H2O*) < 0.04. Reaction mechanisms are proposed.