Gamma Radiolysis of Metal Acetates

This research was undertaken in order to examine aspects of the radiolysis of certain molecular salts. Specifically we examine the influence of a relatively inert metal, cation on the decomposition of a labile molecular anion. The salts used for this study were a number of group I and group II metal acetates. In general the cation may play a very passive role, possibly acting only as a source of energy that would be available for decomposition of the anion. Or it may have some other more profound influence on both the decomposition pathway and the final products. To distinguish the importance of these possible effects we examine the various products formed during the exposure of these salts to y-radiation. We then correlate these results with the known radiation chemistry and the properties of these salts