skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Homogeneous hydrolysis rate constants. Part 2: Additions, corrections and halogen effects

Journal Article · · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
 [1];  [2]
  1. State Univ. of New York, Cortland, NY (United States). Chemistry Dept.
  2. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA (United States)

Groundwater and surface water contamination by halogenated hydrocarbons released in industrial spills, agricultural accidents, and landfill leaching, among other sources, continues to threaten drinking water in many parts of the world. Assessment of the danger posed by contaminated water depends, among other considerations, on the environmental lifetimes of the contaminants. Neutral and alkaline rate constants were measured for 14 halogenated hydrocarbons, and new or revised rate constants were determined for hexachloroethane, trichloroethene, and 1,2-dichloroethane. These results include the effects of F or Br substitution for Cl in halogenated methanes, ethanes, and ethenes. The brominated ethanes and ethenes are more reactive than the corresponding chlorinated compounds, due to lower activation energies and higher activation entropies. Fluorine substitution increases the activation energy for some of the ethanes and greatly decreases reactivity for most of the compounds studied. However, fluorodichloromethane is about as reactive as chloroform. Complex reactions were observed in alkaline solutions of vinyl chloride and 1,2-dichlorotrifluoroethane.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
268011
Journal Information:
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 15, Issue 7; Other Information: PBD: Jul 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English