ON THE RADIATION-CHEMICAL KINETICS OF THE PRECURSOR TO THE HYDRATED ELECTRON

Comparisons of the predictions of stochastic diffusion kinetic calcula tions using electron track structures with experimental scavenger data show that the precursor to the hydrated electron, e(pre)(-), plays a role in determining the total yield of electrons scavenged in a number of systems. The significance of e(pre)(-) scavenging on yields depend s on the scavenger of interest and on the rate coefficient of the scav enger's reaction with the hydrated electron, e(aq)(-). For Cd2+, where the reaction (e(aq)(-) + Cd2+) is fast, the consequences of e(pre)(-) scavenging are experimentally not apparent, for NO3-, a less efficien t e(aq)(-) scavenger, the effects of e(pre)(-) reaction are apparent i n concentrated solutions, and for SeO42-, an inefficient e(aq)(-) scav enger, e(pre)(-) scavenging is obvious even in dilute solution.