Abstract
The ultimate products of static gas discharge in organic vapor are solid polymer deposits and inorganic gases. Analyses by gas chromatography of decomposition intermediates suggested common routes for many systems. Characteristic plasma reactions are decarbonylation and dehydrogenation, with solid resins arising via migration of ionized unsaturated species to the electrodes where they recombine as energetic neutral fragments. The last organic residue found in the vapor state after exhaustive discharge decomposition of any hydrocarbon is acetylene. Experimental evidence of the formation of the trifluoromethyl radical from perfluoroacetone is presented.