The Chemical Properties of Tritium

DOE-HDBK-1132-99

Photon Emissions . No nuclear electromagnetic emissions (gamma

emissions) are involved in the decay scheme for tritium although it is worth

noting that tritium does produce bremsstrahlung (braking radiation) as its beta

particles are decelerated through interactions with nearby matter.

2.10.5

The Chemical Properties of Tritium .

Generic . Although the chemical properties of tritium have been described in

great detail, three distinctive types of chemical reactions and one underlying

principle in particular are worth noting here. The reaction types are solubility

reactions, exchange reactions, and radiolysis reactions. The underlying

principle is Le Chatelier' Principle. An overview of these types of reactions

and Le Chatelier' Principle is presented below.

Solubility Reactions. Elemental hydrogen, regardless of its form (H 2, D2, T2, and

all combinations thereof), can be expected to dissolve to some extent in virtually all

materials. On the atomic or molecular scale, hydrogen-like atoms, diatomic

hydrogen-like species, or larger, hydrogen-like-bearing molecules tend to dissolve

interstitially (i.e., they diffuse into the crystalline structure, locating themselves

inside the normal lattice work of the internal structure). Schematically, such

reactions can easily be described in terms of the generic reactions:

H2 + Material 6 2H@Material ,

(4a)

Hy + Material 6 xHy@Material ,

(4b)

H + Material 6 1 H @Material .

and

(4c)

Theoretically, however, the underlying mechanics are much more complex.

For example, of the generic reactions shown above, none are shown as being

reversible. From a chemical perspective, none of these reactions is technically

correct because, in most dissolution reactions, the solute that goes in can be

expected to be the same solute that comes out. From an operational

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