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L. C. BROWN AND G. E. BOYD
Production of Perchlorate and Chlorite Ions in Crystalline Potassium Chlorate Irradiated with Cobalt-60
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by L. C. Brown and G. E. Boyd Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 97850
(Received August 16, 1968)
The production of perchlorate and chlorite ions in crystalline KC103 irradiated with 6oCoy rays at ca. 30’ was demonstrated by infrared absorption measurements. Quantitative determinations of the concentration of C104- ions in the solid were performed, and the results were compared with chemical analyses for perchlorate in aqueous solutions of the irradiated solid. The concentrations of C104- in solution and in the crystal were found equal within experimental error. A4ccordingly,the hypothesis that the perchlorate observed in solution was produced by the hydrolysis of C1206 assumed to be present in the solid was unnecessary. Radiolytic yields for the species C1-, C10-, ClOz-, and C104- were obtained. The concentrations of the first three species appeared to increase linearly with the absorbed dose to a dose as great as 4.4 x loZaeV (mol of KC1O,)-l; the concentration of Clod- ion, however, increased less rapidly than linearly at large doses. Interesting similarities between the radiolytic and thermal decompositions of the alkali metal chlorates were noted .
A knowledge of the identities and concentrations of the species formed in inorganic crystals by energetic ionizing radiations is essential to an understanding of the radiation chemistry of solids. Spectroscopic metliods have proved useful in this connection. particularly in investigations with crystals containing oxyanions. With the alkali metal and alkaline earth chlorates, for example, esr studies on irradiated NaC103,2 I
