γ-Radiolysis of cyclohexane with electron scavengers. VI. N2O and SF6 as electron scavengers in the vapor phase

Abstract

The γ-radiolysis of cyclohexane has been examined in the vapor phase using N2O and SF6 as electron scavengers. Both N2O and SF6 reduce the hydrogen yield from 4.6 to 3.0 G units, indicating that 3.0 G units of hydrogen have neutral species as precursors, while 1.6 G units have electrons as precursors.Radiolysis of cyclohexane vapor with more than 2% N2O produces 10.4 G units of cyclohexene and 11.5 of nitrogen. Carbon dioxide reduces both these yields; the extrapolated value of G(N2) is equal to G(electrons) at infinite CO2 concentration. Thus O− is likely a precursor of that part of the nitrogen yield in excess of G(electrons), and of the cyclohexene yield associated with this nitrogen yield.The first order molecular detachment of hydrogen is unaffected by electron scavengers, showing that most of this first order yield has neutral precursors. The implications for Dyne's general mechanism of hydrocarbon radiolysis are discussed.