Reaction of oxygen atoms, O($sup 3$P), with ethylene in liquid nitrogen solution

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1973 · Can. J. Chem., v. 51, no. 3, pp. 373-381

OSTI ID:4425429

Hirokami, S; Cvetanovic, R J

The reaction of ground-state oxygen atoms, O(/sup 3/P), with ethylene and ethylene-d/sub 4/ in liquid nitrogen solution at 77 deg K was studied. The major and perhaps the exclusive products are ethylene oxide and acetaldehyde. The ratio of acetaldehyde to ethylene oxide is 1.2 plus or minus 0.1 for ethylene and 0.91 plus or minus 0.09 for ethylene-d/sub 4/. Much smaller amounts of formaldehyde and trace quantitie s of cyclopropane are also observed. The effect of the concentration of ethylene on the quantum yields of addition products was measured. A limiting quantum yield of oxygen atoms scavenged by ethylene to form the addition products was 0.12 plus or minus 0.01. The low quantum yield suggests an appreciable cage recombination of the ground-state oxygen atoms with the trace amounts of molecular oxygen present. The effect of the concentration of added oxygen on the product yields and the relative rate constant for the addition of O(/sup 3/P) to molecular oxygen and to ethylene were determined. The ratio k+O+O/sub 2/)/k(O+ C/sub 2/H/sub 4/) is 6.0 plus or minus 1.0 and the relative rate constant for the addition of O(/sup 3/P) to ethylene and to ethylene-d/sub 4/, k(O+C/sub 2/D/sub 4/)/k(O+C /sub 2/H/sub 4/) is 2.0 plus or minus 0.1. The type of products formed and the isotope effects observed are discussed in terms of the mechanism of addition of O/sup 3/(P) atoms to ethylene. (auth)

• Research Organization: National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa
• NSA Number: NSA-29-000133
• OSTI ID: 4425429
• Journal Information: Can. J. Chem., v. 51, no. 3, pp. 373-381, Journal Name: Can. J. Chem., v. 51, no. 3, pp. 373-381; ISSN CJCHA
• Country of Publication: Canada
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*DEUTERIUM-- ISOTOPE EFFECTS
ATOMS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ETHYLENE
LOW TEMPERATURE
N40220* --Chemistry--Inorganic
Organic
& Physical Chemistry--Isotopic Effects
OXYGEN