THE PHOTODECOMPOSITION OF CHLORINE DIOXIDE IN CARBON TETRACHLORIDE SOLUTION

Abstract

Insolation of carbon tetrachloride solutions of chlorine dioxide initiates a thermal decomposition, the magnitude of which may exceed that for the photoreaction with low light intensity. This thermal decomposition is inhibited by keeping the solutions at 3 °C. or by adding water.In contradiction to the findings of other investigators, it is found that chlorine and oxygen are not the only products of photodecomposition. As products of the photodecomposition of chlorine dioxide at the wave-lengths 3650 and 4360 Å, the oxides Cl₂O, Cl₂O₆, and Cl₂O₇ as well as chlorine and oxygen appear. The quantum efficiency at λ 3650 Å is 2, and at 4360 Å, 1.In the unsensitized decomposition, concentration effects are observed which are greatly decreased when the solutions are stirred.In the bromine sensitized decomposition with 5460 Å, there is less chlorine monoxide but relatively as much Cl₂O₆ and Cl₂O₇ formed as in the unsensitized reaction.In the sensitized decomposition the quantum yield is independent of the concentration of chlorine dioxide, but depends on the light intensity. The observed quantum yield for the sensitized reaction is 0.2 to 0.3.Mechanisms for the photo-reactions have been proposed.