CHEMICAL EFFECTS OF PHOTONUCLEAR REACTIONS IN THE PROPYL BROMIDES

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1956

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4324354· OSTI ID:4324354

Richardson, A. E.; Voigt, A. F.

When nuclear reactions occur in atoms in molecules chemical changes follow as a result of the recoil of the product atoms. The nature of these chemical changes was studied intensively for a number of systems but in most cases the magnitude of the recoil energy was about the same. In the present studies use was made of a much greater recoil energy than that normally used. The reaction Br( gamma ,n)Br* gives a recoil bromine atom with an energy of the order of 10/sup 5/ ev, compared to 10/sup 2/ ev for the product of the Br(n, gamma )Br* reaction which is ususlly used. The chemical nature of the products resulting when the propyl bromides were irradiated with neutrons and 70-Mev gamma rays was studied by established techniques. It is possible to differentiate between the reactions which occur while the recoiling bromine atom still is highly energetic, or hot,'' and those which occur after it has been slowed down to thermal energies. The products of the hot reactions show little dependence on the intial recoil energy. In the case of the thermal reactions, the higher energy recoil produces a greater number of products which are different from the original molecules. This can be attributed to the presence of a higher concentration of free radical fragments which are produced in slowing down the higher energy recoiling atom. These fragments combine with the radioactive bromine after it has reached thermal energies to form a greater variety and amount of new products. (auth)

• Research Organization: Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-82
• NSA Number: NSA-12-008341
• OSTI ID: 4324354
• Report Number(s): ISC-855
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-58
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CHEMISTRY
ATOMS
BROMIDES
BROMINE
BROMINE ISOTOPES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ENERGY
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITATION
FREE RADICALS
GAMMA RADIATION
IRRADIATION
MOLECULES
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
ORGANIC BROMINE COMPOUNDS
PHOTOFISSION
PROPYL RADICALS
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOCHEMISTRY
RADIOISOTOPES
RECOILS