The Thermal Decomposition of Ethylene Iodide

Abstract
The homogeneous gaseous decomposition of ethylene iodide has been studied in the temperature interval 205°—230°C. It is found that two simultaneous reactions occur to give the same final products, ethylene and iodine. One is a reaction catalyzed by iodine atoms, similar to that found to occur in solutions. The other is a unimolecular decomposition. The activation energies of the two reactions are 30,200 cal. and 36,600 cal., respectively. It is shown that the results for the iodine catalyzed reaction in solution and in the gas phase are in agreement indicating that the solvent has only a slight effect, if any, on the reaction rate.