D. Behar
2660
Pulse Radiolysis Study of Aqueous Hydrogen Cyanide and Cyanide Solutionsla D. Seharlb Radiation Research Laboratoriesand Center for Special Studies, Mellon Institute of Science, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 75213 (Received May 13, 1974) Publication costs assisted by the Carnegie-Mellon University and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
The pulse radiolysis of NzO saturated solutions of HCN and CN- has been studied in the pH region 3.7-14. Spectra of three different species were identified. In acid and neutral solutions OH adds to the HCN triple bond and forms the HC(OH)=N radical with A,, 240 nrn and e240 550 M - l cm-l. This radical disappears according to a second-order rate law with 2k = 1.5 X lo9 M-' sec-l. At pH 10.6 OH adds to CN- with a rate of h (OH t CN-) = 7.1 X lo9 M - l sec-l to form HOC=N-. This adduct protonates and rearranges to the formamide radical CONHz with A,,
