Abstract
In this work we use a sensitive method for detecting the presence of hydrated electrons in argon-saturated water exposed to 50 kHz ultrasound. This method is based on the fact that hydrated electrons, but not hydrogen atoms, can be scavenged by Cd^<2+> to prevent their reaction with the nitrone spin trap α-(4-pyridyl-l-oxide)-N-t-butylnitrone(POBN) to form the EPR-detectable adduct POBN/^・H. No detectable yield of hydrated electrons in argon-saturated aqueous solutions at neutral pH was found. These results are evidence against the formation of hydrated electrons as reactive intermediates in the sonochemistry of neutral aqueous solutions.
