Photodissociation and photodetachment of molecular negative ions. IV. Hydrates of O3−

The total photodestruction cross section of gas-phase O3−⋅H2O and O3−⋅2H2O have been measured over a wavelength range of 6300–5120 Å using a tunable dye laser. The cross sections for these ions closely resemble that of O3−, but are progressively smaller, blue shifted, and less structured with the addition of each water ligand. The major product of the O3−⋅H2O photodestruction is O3−. The possibility of other dissociation channels in the hydrate photodestruction and the influence of the water ligands on the O3− absorption spectrum are discussed.