Radiolysis of ethane. I. Liquid phase at 195°K with added cyclopentene

Abstract
The radiolysis of liquid ethane at 195°K gives as major products H2, C2H4, and n-C4H10. Minor products are CH4 and C3H8. The initial yields of H2 and C2H4 can only be determined indirectly due to the high rate of H-atom addition to product ethylene. c-C5H8 in low concentration effectively scavenges H atoms and hence protects C2H4. The derived initial yields are: G(H2) = 5.97, G(C2H4) = 2.96, G(CH4) = 0.44, and G(C3H8) = 0.55. The yields of scavengeable H atoms and C2H5 radicals are 2.29 and 5.81, respectively. The problem of direct measurement of initial G(H2) values for saturated hydrocarbons at low temperatures is discussed.