Solvated Electrons: One of Nature’s Most Reactive Species Caught at the Surface of Water

The solvated electron (es-) is one of nature’s most powerful transient reactants, with thousands of reactions identified in water. What happens when these electrons are born near the surface of water instead of deep in the bulk? We create near-surface electrons by exposing a water microjet in vacuum to sodium atoms. These Na atoms immediately ionize into Na+(aq) and es- in the top few layers of water. When we add a surface-active molecule to the solution, reactions between es- and the surfactant can be localized near the outermost region. These gas-liquid scattering experiments have their origins in Y. T. Lee’s pioneering gas-gas scattering experiments using crossed molecular beams. Our efforts build upon this legacy to help unravel the dynamics of elementary chemical reactions between gases and liquids. We will show that, when surfactants are present, the interfacial region is often where the (re)action is, even for a liquid!

This talk will include some fun hands-on activities with soapy water. Please bring a water bottle with you if you have one and prepare to get a bit wet.

Speaker: Gilbert Nathanson, University of Wisconsin, Madison