THE FLUORIDES OF URANIUM. III. KINETIC STUDIES OF THE FLUORINATION OF URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE BY FLUORINE

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1959 · J. Inorg. & Nuclear Chem.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1902(59)80188-3· OSTI ID:4242352

Labaton, V Y; Johnson, K D.B.

The reaction between uranium tetrafluoride and fluorine was studied between 265 and 348 deg C by following the change in weight of the solid phases using a spring balance. Formation of uranium hexafluoride at the solid surface is accompanied by migration of fluorine ions into thc UF/sub 4/ lattice. The rate of production UF/sub 6/ is in agreement with the kinetics expected for reaction between a gas and a solid at a continuously diminishing spherical interface. The rate of reaction depends on the temperature; no reaction is detectable below 220 deg C. Within the limits of experimental accuracy the Arrhenius equation relates the reaction-rate constant and the temperarure of reaction: the activation energies determined for three preparations of UF/sub 4/ were 15.5, 19.1, and 19.9 kcal per mole. A linear relationship is shown to exist between the reaction rate and partial pressure of fluorine, but within the range examined the reaction rate is not affected by the velocity of gaseous reactant past the solid. The rate of UF/sub 6/ production is dependent on an ''effective'' surface area of UF/sub 4/ rather than the surface area determined by gaseous adsorption. (auth)

• Research Organization: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Capenhurst Works, Chester, Eng.
• NSA Number: NSA-13-015099
• OSTI ID: 4242352
• Journal Information: J. Inorg. & Nuclear Chem., Vol. Vol: 10; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CHEMISTRY
ADSORPTION
ATOMIC MODELS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRYSTALS
DIAGRAMS
DIFFUSION
ENERGY LEVELS
EQUATIONS
EXCITATION
FLUORINATION
FLUORINE
GAS FLOW
GASES
INSTRUMENTS
IONS
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
LATTICES
MACHINE PARTS
MEASURED VALUES
PREPARATION
PRESSURE
REACTION KINETICS
SOLIDS
SPHERES
SURFACES
TABLES
TEMPERATURE
THERMODYNAMICS
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE
URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE
WEIGHT