THE RATE OF REACTION OF ACTIVE NITROGEN WITH AMMONIA AND ETHYLENE

Abstract

The rate constants for the reactions of C₂H₄ and NH₃ are determined by termination of the reactions in the gas phase after different times of reaction. The average value for the rate constant of the N atom–C₂H₄ reaction at 150 °C is 1.8 × 10¹⁰ cc mole⁻¹ sec⁻¹, when the initial N-atom concentration is determined from the maximum production of HCN. The average value for the rate constant for the over-all reaction of NH₃ with excited nitrogen molecules, at 104 °C in the "poisoned" system, and 83 °C in the "unpoisoned" system, for low initial flow rates of NH₃, or short reaction time, is 2.2 × 10¹⁰ cc mole⁻¹ sec⁻¹. The decrease in value of this rate constant at higher initial flow rates of NH₃ and longer reaction times in the "poisoned" system indicates that the species responsible for NH₃ decomposition is generated during the decay of N atoms in the presence of NH₃. The value for the NH₃ reaction is discussed in terms of energy transfer.