Solvated electron

A solvated electron is a free electron in (solvated in) a solution. Solvated electrons are widely occurring and are commonly proposed for reactions that occur in water. Solutions of alkali metals in ammonia are brightly coloured due to the presence of solvated electrons: blue when dilute and copper-colored when more concentrated (> 3 molar).^[1] Whereas a solution of solvated electrons is stable in ammonia for days, solvated electrons have a very short lifetime in water. Upon the addition of crown ether ligands, one can obtain salts of the solvated electrons. These salts are called electrides. A common use of sodium dissolved in liquid ammonia is the Birch reduction.

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Reactions

Radiation chemistry

The solvated electron is responsible for a great deal of radiation chemistry. One possible industrial application of radiation generated solvated electrons is the treatment of PCBs, the polychlorobiphenyls are converted to biphenyl and inorganic chloride^{[citation needed]}.

With small molecules

The solvated electron reacts with oxygen to form a superoxide radical (O₂^.-)^{[citation needed]}, which is a potent oxidant. With nitrous oxide, solvated electrons react to form hydroxyl radicals (HO^.).^{[citation needed]} The solvated electrons can be scavenged from both aqueous and organic systems with nitrobenzene or sulfur hexafluoride^{[citation needed]}.

References

1. ^ Cotton, F.A; G. Wilkinson (1972). Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. John Wiley and Sons Inc. ISBN 0-471-17560-9.