Effect of outer cations and water of crystallization on the radiolytic decomposition of nitrates

The -ray induced decomposition of several inorganic nitrates CsNO₃, TlNO₃, Mg/NO₃/₂.6H₂O, Ca/NO₃/₂.4H₂O, Hg/NO₃/₂, Hg/NO₃/₂.2H₂O, Pb/NO₃/₂ and Al/NO₃/₃.9H₂O has been studied at an absorbed dose of {5 Mrads. G/NO₂^–/ is affected by the outer cation and depends mainly on its valency and ionic size. G/NO₂^–/ for hydrated mercuric nitrate is always higher as compared to that for the anhydrous mercuric nitrate at various doses. Water of crystallization might provide extra factors to facilitate the decomposition of the hydrated nitrate compared to that for the anhydrous salts. In most cases G/NO₂^–/ decreases exponentially with dose but in cases of CsNO₃, Mg/NO₃/₂.6H₂O and Al/NO₃/₃.9H₂O it varies linearly.