THE BROMINE-SENSITIZED DECOMPOSITION OF CHLORINE MONOXIDE IN GREEN LIGHT

Abstract

Chlorine monoxide undergoes a bromine-sensitized decomposition in light of wave-length 5460 A. The reaction involves short chains and is accompanied by an appreciable dark reaction. The quantum yield is 4.3 at 19 °C. A decrease in pressure occurring near the end of the reaction has been shown to be a photochemical effect, and it is due probably to the bromine-sensitized decomposition of chlorine dioxide formed during the combined light and dark reactions.A mechanism similar to that described by Finkelnburg, Schumacher and Stieger for the unsensitized reaction appears to account for most of the observations.