photolysis
(fəʊˈtɒlɪsɪs)
[f. photo- 1 + Gr. λύσ-ις loosening: cf. electrolysis.]
1. Bot. General term for the movements of protoplasm (esp. that containing chlorophyll-granules) under the influence of light, distinguished as apostrophe epistrophe.
2. Chem. Decomposition or dissociation of molecules by the action of light; flash photolysis; see flash n.2 14 b.
| 1911 Chem. Abstr. V. 1705 When the action is prolonged the decomp[osition] products may also undergo a partial photolysis. 1938 Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A. CLXIV. 151 (heading) The theory of the photolysis of silver bromide and the photographic latent image. 1955 Jrnl. Amer. Chem. Soc. LXXVII. 6457/2 Most of the photolyses were carried out at room temperature. 1965 New Scientist 29 Apr. 291/1 Fission of the molecule (photolysis) occurs. 1972 R. A. Jackson Mechanism iv. 61 Radicals may be introduced into reaction systems by photolysis or pyrolysis of a suitable molecule. |
Hence photoˈlytic a., produced by or being photolysis; photoˈlytically adv.
| 1934 Webster, Photolytic. 1938 Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A. CLXIV. 151 (heading) Direct photolytic reduction of silver halides. 1946 Nature 7 Sept. 345/1 Both the reducing hydrogen and the hydroxyl radicals were supposed to be photolytic products of water. 1951 Sci. News XXII. 78 Carbon dioxide is not directly reduced to formaldehyde by the photolytically produced hydrogen. 1970 Photochem. & Photobiol. XII. 228 One is led to the conclusion that the chemically reactive intermediate in these photolytic systems is 3SO2. 1977 I. M. Campbell Energy & Atmosphere viii. 227 It..allows nitrogen dioxide to be photolytically dissociated within the troposphere. |