Hypothesis of a possible chemical fate for the incompletely relaxed electron in water and alcohols

Abstract

We discuss the possibility for incompletely relaxed localized electrons (e ir −) in pure liquid water or alcohols to react chemically before solvation according to one of the reactions e ir −+H 2O→H .+OH − and e ir −+RCH 2OH→H .+RCH 2O −. These reactions should occur when e ir − lies in the low-energy end of the solvent trap depth distribution corresponding to the infrared region of the optical absorption spectra. Consequences of such chemical processes on the solvated electron absorption spectra and on the products of the radiolysis of these solvents are also discussed.