Photodissociation of Water (H2O)

Photodissociation of water.
Animation courtesy COMET.

This movie shows how an ultraviolet (UV) photon can break apart a water molecule. When the photon hits the water molecule (H2O), it adds energy to the molecule. The extra energy breaks one of the bonds between the oxygen atom and a hydrogen atom. The hydrogen atom (H) flies away from the piece that's left, which is called a hydroxyl radical (OH).

This is called photodissociation.

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Photodissociation of Molecular Nitrogen

Photodissociation of Molecular Oxygen

Photodissociation of the Hydroxyl Radical

Last modified February 17, 2006 by Randy Russell.

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