Anti-inhibition and promotion of radiolytic hydrogen formation in water by hydroxonium ions

The ability of hydroxonium ions to enhance the yield of radiolytic hydrogen in aqueous potassium nitrate and potassium chloride solutions is shown. The proposed explanation of the effect is based on the concept of a presolvated electron as a hydrogen precursor. The interception of electrons by H-aq(+) ions yielding the weakly bound transient species (H-aq(+)...e(-)) retards the hydration of electrons, thus providing a possibility of their longer involvement in hydrogen formation reactions and, hence, enhancement of the yield of hydrogen. The revealed effect is similar to the phenomenon known in positronium chemistry as hydrogen anti-inhibition occurring in a nonpolar liquid containing an electron scavenger, when a second solute that, unlike the first solute, weakly binds electrons is added.