Mass spectrometric studies of chemical reactions in shock waves: the thermal decomposition of nitrous oxide

Authors:
  • SBS. C. Barton
    S. C. Barton
  • JDJ. E. Dove
    J. E. Dove
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Abstract
Apparatus for the mass spectrometric study of rapid gas reactions in reflected shock waves is described. This apparatus has been applied to the thermal decomposition of 2% N2O in Kr at total gas concentrations of about 1.6 × 10−6 mole cm−3, in the temperature range 1800 to 2800 °K. The principal products of the reaction were found to be N2, O2, NO, and O. The rate coefficient for the unimolecular decomposition of N2O was calculated from the experimental data, and the rates of the secondary reactions between O and N2O were estimated. The possibility of the occurrence of a "weak collision" mechanism in the unimolecular reaction of N2O is discussed.