Radiation Chemistry: Principles and Applications

Radiation chemistry can be used to study reactions of free radicals and of metal ions in unusual valency states, including electron-transfer reactions. In some instances, radiation chemistry facilitates experiments that can not be studied by photochemistry, owing to differences in the fundamental physical processes in the two methods. Procedures have been developed to accurately determine radiolysis radical yields, and a variety of physical techniques have been used to monitor reactions. In particular, aqueous radiation chemistry has been extensively developed, and many free radicals can be generated in a controlled manner in aqueous solution. There are extensive literature resources for rate constants and for experimental design for a variety of radicals.