Abstract
This investigation describes the chemical effects of ionizing radiation on dilute aqueous solutions of benzoate ion. We have composed an experimental procedure that allows undergraduate chemistry students to identify and to quantitatively determine the amount of the products that are produced. The student investigators determine the absorbed dose that a sample receives when exposed to a 60Co source, irradiate dilute aqueous solutions of benzoate ion, and analyze the resulting mixture of hydroxybenzoate ions using high-performance liquid chromatography. The radiolysis of dilute solutions of benzoate ion results in the formation of a mixture of ortho-, meta-, and para-hydroxybenzoate ions that are readily separated on a C18 μ-Bondapak column. By the use of appropriate calibration curves, the yield (G values) of each of the isomers may be determined and compared.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This paper was presented at the 15th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, August 1998 by N. Zevos and at the 26th Northeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society by Evon Powell.
About this article
Cite this article
Powell, E., Zevos, N. Radiolysis of Aqueous Solutions of Benzoate Ion: A Radiation Chemistry Experiment for Undergraduates. Chem. Educator 7, 366–370 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00897020614a
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00897020614a