TCE     
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The Chemical Educator
ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)
Abstract Volume 7
Issue 6 (2002) pp 366-370
Radiolysis of Aqueous Solutions of Benzoate Ion: A Radiation Chemistry Experiment for Undergraduates
Evon Powell† and Nick Zevos*
*Department of Chemistry, SUNY College at Potsdam, Potsdam, NY 13676;
†Department of Chemistry, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY
13699-5810, zevosn@potsdam.edu
Received June 24, 2002. Accepted August 12, 2002
Published online: 24 October 2002
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.
Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; nuclear chemistry; general chemistry; nonmajors chemistry
(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: zevosn@potsdam.edu)
Article in PDF format (286 KB) HTML format
Supporting Materials:
A description of the 60Co Source, compositions of the dosimeter and the benzoate ion solution, analytical instrumentation and conditions, and the benzoate ion dissociation are included in a Zip file (171 KB) 10.1007/s00897020614bIssue date: December
1, 2002
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