  Photostimulated electron detachment from aqueous inorganic anions is the
simplest example of solvent-mediated electron transfer. Here we contrast the
behavior of halide anions with that of small polyatomic anions, such as
pseudohalide anions (e.g., HS-) and common polyvalent anions (e.g., SO32-).
Geminate recombination dynamics of hydrated electrons generated by 200 nm
photoexcitation of aqueous anions (I-, Br-, OH-, HS-, CNS-, CO32-, SO32-, and
Fe(CN)64-) have been studied. Prompt quantum yields for the formation of
solvated, thermalized electrons and quantum yields for free electrons were
determined. Pump-probe kinetics for 200 nm photoexcitation were compared with
kinetics obtained at lower photoexcitation energy (225 nm or 242 nm) for the
same anions, where possible. Free diffusion and mean force potential models of
geminate recombination dynamics were used to analyze these kinetics. These
analyses suggest that for polyatomic anions (including all polyvalent anions
studied) the initial electron distribution has a broad component, even at
relatively low photoexcitation energy. There seem to be no well-defined
threshold energy below which the broadening of the distribution does not occur,
as is the case for halide anions. Direct ionization to the conduction band of
water is the most likely photoprocess broadening the electron distribution. Our
study suggests that halide anions are in the class of their own; electron
photodetachment from polyatomic, especially polyvalent, anions follows a
different set of rules.
