The radiolysis of saturated hydrocarbons

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1962 · Journal of Physical Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100815a011· OSTI ID:4767913

Hardwick, T. J.

The yields of primary products in the radiolysis of some twenty saturated hydrocarbons (C₅-C₁₀) were measured. For all paraffins investigated, the yield of molecular'' hydrogen gas is approximately a constant fraction of the total hydrogen gas (0.40) despite changes in hydrocarbon structure and total hydrogen gas yield. Evidence is presented which indicates that this molecular'' hydrogen arises by a hot'' hydrogen atom mechanism rather than by a molecular detachment process. The balance of the hydrogen gas formed arises from the reaction of radiolytically produced chemical hydrogen atoms with the solvent. Congruent molecular'' unsaturation (olefins of the same carbon number produced in the presence of alkyl radical scavengers) ranges from 50 to 80% of the molecular'' hydrogen yield. Radicals produced by C-C bond scission interact within the cage of formation by disproportionation or recombination, or may escape from the cage to react with other radicals or solutes. Yields of such freely diffusing radicals were measured, and a definite relation to chemical structure was found. The results for all hydrocarbons studied are in complete agreement with the mechanism previously postulated for saturated hydrocarbon radiolysis. Determinations of free radical yields by e.p.r. give results in good agreement with other methods.

• Research Organization: Gulf Research and Development Co., Pittsburgh
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-16-033040
• OSTI ID: 4767913
• Journal Information: Journal of Physical Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 66; ISSN 0022-3654
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ALKENES
ALKYL RADICALS
BINDING ENERGY
CONFIGURATION
DECOMPOSITION
DIFFUSION
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRONS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN
ION RECOMBINATION
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
MEASURED VALUES
MOLECULES
PARAFFIN
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIOCHEMISTRY
RADIOLYSIS
REACTION KINETICS
REGENERATION
SOLVENTS