Polysaccharides hydrated electron

Many naturally occurring ionic polysaccharides are mixed salts of alkali, alkali-earth, and transition metals with different insolubilities. Salts of alkali metals are invariably soluble. Sodium, the most ubiquitous alkali, possesses a single valence electron, large atomic and ionic radii, and very low ionization potential. Na+ hydrates in aqueous solution and retains its coordination water in the solid state. Prior to use, native polysaccharide salts are usually converted to the sodium form whence they acquire functionality. 

In order to better understand the behaviour of this polysaccharide, the proposed crystalline structures should be examined. The "dry" and "hydrate" form of this polysaccharide have been studied by x-ray crystal 1 ography( ) and electron diffraction techniques. Table III gives a resume of the data available for this compound. In both polymorphs, the unit cell is orthorhombic. 

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