Term: radiolysis https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05112 Definition: The cleavage of one or several bonds resulting from exposure to high-energy radiation. The term is also often used loosely to specify the method of irradiation ('pulse radiolysis') used in any radiochemical reaction, not necessarily one involving bond cleavage. Related Terms: 1) irradiation (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.I03255). Source: PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 1156 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466051077) Citation: 'radiolysis' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05112 License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms. Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.