EFFECTS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC-FIELDS ON CHEM ICAL-REACTION RATES

In this paper we review some of the theory and experiments associated with the effects of electric and magnetic fields on chemical reaction rates. The paper proposes a simple model for chemical reactions and sh ows that the effects of weak electric fields can change the probabilit y that molecules of the reacting materials will encounter each other, as well as shift the barrier energy for the reaction. These effects oc cur primarily in the vicinity of membranes sr at boundaries where ther e are large variations in current density or concentration of one of t he chemical reactants. It is also shown that fluctuations in temperatu re can provide a mechanism for demodulating radio frequency waves and lead to periodic chemical signal at the modulating frequency.