Photodissociation

<p>Photodissociation, photolysis, photodecomposition, or photofragmentation is a <a href="/facts/Chemical_reaction/GpqWlKrz">chemical reaction</a> in which <a href="/facts/Molecules/N9ljSfFq">molecules</a> of a <a href="/facts/Chemical_compound/37FXqqtv">chemical compound</a> are broken down by absorption of light or <a href="/facts/Photon/mFNhAEzA">photons</a>. It is defined as the interaction of one or more photons with one target molecule that dissociates into two fragments.
</p><p>Here, “light” is broadly defined as radiation spanning the <a href="/facts/Vacuum_ultraviolet/kncBUqn5">vacuum ultraviolet (VUV)</a>, <a href="/facts/Ultraviolet/kncBUqn5">ultraviolet (UV)</a>, <a href="/facts/Visible_spectrum/frPBh8o5">visible</a>, and <a href="/facts/Infrared/44XdJNcc">infrared (IR)</a> regions of the <a href="/facts/Electromagnetic_spectrum/24LARvFY">electromagnetic spectrum</a>. To break <a href="/facts/Covalent_bond/EzMLf3Pz">covalent bonds</a>, <a href="/facts/Photon/mFNhAEzA">photon</a> energies corresponding to visible, UV, or VUV light are typically required, whereas IR photons may be sufficiently energetic to detach <a href="/facts/Ligand/6etB3qeW">ligands</a> from <a href="/facts/Coordination_complex/1tCyeQUm">coordination complexes</a> or to fragment supramolecular complexes.
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Photodissociation open-in-new

Photodissociation