Addition of ethane to slowly reacting mixtures of hydrogen and oxygen at 500°C

Abstract

Addition of traces of hydrocarbons to slowly reacting mixtures of H₂+ O₂ at 500°C can give information first on the reactions of H and OH with the hydrocarbon, and secondly, on the subsequent reactions of the alkyl radical produced. By combining with lower temperature studies, a value of k(OH + C₂H₆)= 8.7 × 10¹⁰ exp(–3520/RT) in 1. mol s, cal units, is obtained. The value obtained for H + C₂H₆ agrees closely with previous estimates. The analysis of reaction products indicates that 96 ± 2 % of C₂H₅ radicals react with O₂ to give C₂H₄, and that only very small amounts of CH₃CHO and C₂H₄O are produced. From these relative yields, the overall velocity constants for formation of CH₃CHO and C₂H₄O can be obtained.