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Title: Isomeric Effects in Fragmentation by Beta Decay. Monotritiated Propanes and Toluenes

Journal Article · · Journal of Chemical Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1730710· OSTI ID:4189438

The spectra of positively charged fragments from beta decay of tritium in primary and secondary monotritated propane and in o-, m-, p-, and alpha - monotritiated toluene were determined by mass spectrometric techiniques. Although the number of products from decomposition of each molecule is quite large, the mass patterns from the two propanes are fairly similar while the four mass spectra from the isomeric tritated toluenes are very nearly the same. These results suggest that the influence of the location of the radioactive atom in the molecule on the fragmentation following beta decay is often obscured by secondary processes, such as radiationless transitions, H-atom migration, and other rearrangements of the excited molecular ion before breakup. Significant differences exist within the two groups of mass spectra. Some of the differences in the propane patterns are consistent with the greater stability of the secondary propyl structure as compared to that of the primary isomer. Energetically plausible decomposition schemes for the tritiated propanes are proposed. The distributions of excitation energies made available to the daughter molecular ions (C 3H7He3)+ in the beta transformation of H3 to He3 are estimated.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., Lemont, Ill.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-14-009517
OSTI ID:
4189438
Journal Information:
Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 32, Issue 2; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-60; ISSN 0021-9606
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English