The reactions of acetophenone in water by pulsed corona discharges have been investigated to provide fundamental information concerning the reactions of acetophenone in water. Experimental results indicated that photolysis of acetophenone did not involve a hydroxyl radical mechanism and the majority flux of hydroxyl radicals originated from the dissociation of gas-phase oxygen in the plasma channels. The rate constants for photolysis and pyrolysis were determined to be 1.5 x 10(-7) M-s(-1), 2.2 x 10(-4) s(-1), respectively. The rate constant for the oxidative reactions was measured as 1.2 x 10(-7) M-s(-1). Results from this study support the proposal that acetophenone degradation reaction proceed through the oxidative reaction pathway, where molecular oxygen accelerates acetophenone degradation, photolysis, and pyrolysis pathways.