Chemical Reactions of Positronium in Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

An attempt to a preliminary but systematic study of the chemical properties of the element positronium is described. It is verified (in agreement with Green and Bell) that positrons react with nitrates; it is believed that this reaction is an oxidation process. It is found that positronium is not so readily attacked by the ions ${\mathrm{Cl}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and S${{\mathrm{O}}_{4}}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{-}}$. In chloride and sulfate solutions positronium more effectively replaces the metals which are lowest in the electrochemical series: this result opens the possibility of determining the position of positronium in the electrochemical scale.