LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: The conversion of Cu2+ to Cu+ due to radiation damage in copper acetate monohydrate

The electron spin resonance spectrum of magnetically isolated Cu2+ ions is observed in γ-irradiated copper acetate monohydrate, which when undamaged contains only exchange-coupled pairs of Cu2+ ions. It is proposed that a liberated hydrogen atom converts a water molecule to H3O+, donating an electron to the nearby Cu2+ ion.