THE PHOTOCHEMICAL OXIDATION OF ALDEHYDES IN THE GASEOUS PHASE: PART I. THE KINETICS OF THE PHOTOCHEMICAL OXIDATION OF ACETALDEHYDE

Abstract

The photochemical oxidation of acetaldehyde has been studied in the gaseous phase at 20 °C. and a wavelength of 3130 Å. It has been established that when the pressure of oxygen is between 0.5 mm. and 150 mm. the reaction obeys the kinetic law:[Formula: see text]where k3 is the velocity constant for the propagating reaction [3]:[Formula: see text]and k6 is the velocity constant for the terminating reaction [6]:[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] is the rate of initiation of the photooxidation, i.e. the rate of formation of acetyl radicals, which are thought to be produced in one or both of the following ways:[Formula: see text]