Formation of free radicals:
The ionic products which are formed during Radiolysis of Water Vapour are very reactive. So they get recombined to form free radicals. The formation of free radicals is discussed below:
H2O+ + e–——> •OH + •H
H+ + H2O + e–——>H3O+ + e——> 2H• + •OH
OH+ + H2O + e–——> •H + 2 •OH
In the presence of dissolved air or oxygen, a radical known as Per-hydroxyl Radical i.e. •HO2 is also formed:
•H + O2——> •HO2
Formation of molecular products:
The free radicals which are produced above are highly reactive. They get recombine with themselves and forms stable molecular products:
•H + •OH ——> H2O
•H + •H ——> H2
•OH + •OH——> H2O2
•OH + •HO2——> H2O + O2
•HO2 + •HO2——>H2O2 + O2
