Kinetics of electron capture by SF6 in solution

We present a theory of the rate constant for electron capture by SF6 when it is dissolved in liquid hydrocarbon and condensed rare gas solvents. The theory includes the effects of diffusion and solvation on the observed rate. Also included is the effect of the long-range polarization force acting between the electron and the SF6 molecule. The role of the solvent molecules in modifying this force is taken into account by use of a dielectric screening function. The theory is applied with semiquantitative success to electron capture data in the solvents: methane, ethane, propane, butane, n-pentane, neopentane, n-hexane, cyclohexane, isooctane, tetramethylsilane, argon, and xenon.