Electron Yield in the γ-Radiolysis of Water Vapor

Abstract

Nitrous oxide at low concentrations reduces the high yield of hydrogen from γ-irradiated water vapor containing methanol from 8.9 per 100 electron volts absorbed to a plateau value of 5.9. This indicates that both electrons (yield 3.0) and hydrogen atoms (yield 5.4) are precursors to the hydrogen, the former being scavenged by nitrous oxide.