photodissociationn.
/ˌfəʊtə(ʊ)dᵻˌsəʊʃɪˈeɪʃən/, /ˌfəʊtə(ʊ)dᵻˌsəʊsɪˈeɪʃn/, U.S. /ˈˌfoʊdoʊdəˌsoʊʃiˈeɪʃ(ə)n/, /ˈˌfoʊdoʊdəˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃ(ə)n/ Chemistry and Physics.
Dissociation of a molecule or a subatomic particle by the action of light.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > scientific effects of light > [noun] > study of chemical action of light > dissociation
photodissociation1907
1907 Proc. Royal Soc. 1906–7 A. 78 468 When the incident light is cut off, the reverse reaction is no longer opposed by the photo-dissociation.
1925 London, Edinb., & Dublin Philos. Mag. 6th Ser. 49 1166 It becomes of interest..to investigate the relation between the activation, and the frequency of the illumination;..only recently has a similar investigation been made on the photo-dissociation of sulphur dioxide.
1936 Physical Rev. 49 904/1 The photo-dissociation of deuterons by γ-rays.
1974 Sci. Amer. June 29/1 Atomic iodine is prepared in the proper excited state by the photodissociation of gaseous compounds such as iodotrifluoromethane (CF3I) with xenon flash lamps.
1994 Sci. News 24 Sept. 199/2 The energized oxygen arises by photodissociation, a process whereby the sun's energy breaks up high-altitude ozone and other oxygenated molecules.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1907