If an x-ray ionises a water molecule, what is produced?

When an x-ray ionizes a water molecule, the process leads to the production of various by-products as a result of the initial ionization event. The key by-products of water ionization are indeed hydrogen and hydroxyl radicals, which are highly reactive species. In certain conditions, these radicals can react to form hydrogen peroxide in the presence of oxygen, but under straightforward ionizing radiation interactions with water, the primary products are free radicals rather than stable compounds like hydrogen gas.

The specific production of hydrogen peroxide is a secondary reaction where hydroxyl radicals may combine, but the initial direct result of the ionization is not predominantly hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen gas, as indicated in the chosen answer. This emphasizes the complexity of the reactions occurring as a result of ionizing radiation, particularly the formation of free radicals which can lead to a variety of secondary reactions that ultimately might produce stable chemical species.

In the context of the correct answer, while hydrogen peroxide can form as a result of reactions involving the hydroxyl radical, stating that it is produced alongside hydrogen gas directly from the ionization of water simplifies the intricate series of reactions that follow the initial ionization event. The focus on the produced species and their reactivity when water is ionized illustrates the interplay between initial reactions and