Effect on the equilibrium:

Radiation has an effect on the equilibrium within the case of water.  In the absence of radiation, water does not spontaneously decompose at 500ºF and the equilibrium lies far to the right.

2H₂ + O₂ ↔ 2H₂O

While irradiated, therefore, water does decompose, as display above.  Also, H₂ and O₂ do not normally react at 500ºF since large activation energy is needed to make the reaction occur. The Radiation, in effect, supplies this activation energy, and the reaction takes place readily. Therefore, radiation increases the rates of both forward and reverse reactions, while not through the similar factor.

In common, the effect of radiation on the equilibrium for a given reaction cannot be predicted quantitatively.  The condition is additionally complicated through the observation in which the effect on the equilibrium might vary along with the intensity of the radiation. Within nuclear facilities, the effect might vary along with the power level of the facility. In many cases, this complication is not a severe problem since the direction of the effect is the similar; only the magnitude or degree of the effect varies along with the intensity of the radiation.

As remembered various times previously, reactor coolant is managed at a basic pH (in facilities other than those within aluminum elements or those which use chemical shim reactivity control) to decrease corrosion processes. It is also significant to exclude dissolved oxygen from reactor coolant for the similar purpose. As display in the preceding section, therefore, a natural consequence of exposing pure water to ionizing radiation is production of both oxygen and hydrogen. The further of a base to control pH has basically no effect on these characteristics.