The chemistry of recoil tritium atoms in the gas phase

The chemical reactions of recoil tritium atoms with small organic molecules in the gas phase are summarised. Experimental and theoretical attempts to determine the role of excess translational energy in these ''hot'' reactions are critically reviewed. The source of recoil tritium atoms for gas phase studies is the 3He (n,p)3H reaction. The gases to be studied are sealed in quartz or glass bulb. After irradiation the labelled products are analysed and the amount of tritium present in each compound determined by means of consecutive gas-chromatography and proportional counting. Paraffins, olefins, halogen substituted paraffins and simple oxygen-containing system, such as alcohols and ketones have been studied. (T.I.)