Effect of water on the radiolysis of liquid acetone

Liquid acetone is quickly and efficiently dried with 4 A molecular sieve. Small concentrations (up to 0·4% v/v) of water greatly affect the radiolysis of liquid acetone; the yields of hydrogen, methane, and hexane-2,5-dione are increased and the yields of ethyl methyl ketone and 4-hydroxy-4-methylpentan-2-one are decreased. These effects are interpreted in terms of ionic reactions, for which there exists evidence from ion–molecule studies and from spectroscopic work with low temperature glasses.