Humic substances are complex mixtures of molecules and accordingly can have properties associated with large and small molecules. Photochemical research in our group over the past ten years has given contrasting indications of the molecular size of humic substances, with some results pointing toward large molecules and other results indicating the presence of low molecular weight species. The present contribution will focus on recent data that show that, from the perspective of certain reactive oxygen species, humic substances behave as if they have surprisingly low average molecular weights. A model that reconciles the conflicting views will also be presented.

Photochemical insights into the size of humic substances

248th National Meeting (2014)

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