EFFECT OF CD2-DOT-H ATOM YIELD IN THE SONOLYSIS OF WATER - EVIDENCE AGAINST THE FORMATION OF HYDRATED ELECTRONS( ON THE CENTER)

The formation of hydrated electrons in neutral aqueous ultrasound-expo sed solutions has been postulated previously, and several arguments we re presented in favor and against their existence. In this work we use a sensitive method for detecting the presence of hydrated electrons i n argon-saturated water exposed to 50 kHz ultrasound. This method is b ased on the fact that hydrated electrons, but not hydrogen atoms, can be scavenged by Cd2+ to prevent their reaction with the nitrone spin t rap alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (POBN) to form the E PR-detectable adduct POBN/H-.. No detectable yield of hydrated electro ns in argon-saturated aqueous solutions at neutral pH was found. These results are evidence against the formation of hydrated electrons as r eactive intermediates in the sonochemistry of neutral aqueous solution s.