The carbonate radical (Co3−·) is of biological significance acting as an intermediate in
free radical-mediated damage and is capable of oxidising amino acids and proteins. In
order to distinguish between the four possible structures of Co3−·, nanosecond timeresolved
resonance Raman (TR3) experiments were undertaken. Photolysis of
persulphate at 250 nm generated the So4−· radical which then oxidised sodium carbonate.
Resonance Raman spectra of the resulting Co3−· radical were obtained using a probe
wavelength of 620 nm. Point group theory calculations and interpretation of the TR3
spectra suggest that the radical has C2v
molecular symmetry.