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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Preparation and Reactivity of a Triphosphenium Bromide Salt: A Convenient and Stable Source of Phosphorus(I)
Published on: November 22, 2016
Direct and indirect radiolytic effects in highly concentrated aqueous solutions of bromide
Anna Balcerzyk1, Jay LaVerne, Mehran Mostafavi
1Laboratoire de Chimie Physique, UMR 8000 CNRS/ Université Paris-Sud 11, Faculté des Sciences d'Orsay, Orsay, France.
Abstract:
Highly concentrated aqueous solutions of bromide were used to examine the total radical yield in the direct decomposition of water by γ-rays. Bromide concentrations were varied up to 6 M at which almost all OH(•) radicals, H(•) atoms, and hydrated electrons produced in the picosecond range oxidize bromide to ultimately form Br(3)(-), a stable species that can easily be measured with a spectrometer. Considering only the decomposition of water in the presence of air and in acidic conditions, the apparent yield of oxidizing species is found to be around (10 ± 0.05) × 10(-7) mol J(-1). The absorption of irradiation dose by the solute at high concentration is discussed and quantitatively evaluated. At 6 M Br(-) solutions, 38% of the dose is absorbed by solutes and Br(-) is directly ionized. The optimal value for the initial yield of the radicals produced by direct radiolytic Br(-) ionization is found to be (9.6 ± 0.5) × 10(-7) mol J(-1).
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