[camptzak]

Question regarding the formation of radicals by hν light.

When water is exposed to hv light you form hydrogen radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and peroxides. I know that the oxygen hydrogen bond is in the infrared region, around 3600cm-1

Would the higher energy radiation transmit through the water and simply give off energy as it did resulting in radical cleavage?

would it make contact with a molecule and refect but strike with such a force as to induce radical formation?

[dipesh747]

When a molecule absorbs radiation of an appropriate energy it will dissociate.

If you think about potential energy diagram of H2O and OH + H :

The OH + H will be higher in energy than H2O.

Dissociation will only occur if the molecule absorbs the light.

If it 'bounces' off, nothing will happen - no reaction.