THE REACTION OF CARBON DISULPHIDE WITH ALUMINA

Abstract

The absorption spectrum in aqueous solution of the yellow substance formed by the reaction of carbon disulphide and alumina exhibits absorption maxima at 398 and 325 mμ. This yellow color is not due to sodium disulphide as previously proposed since the latter substance showed an entirely different spectrum with shoulders at about 360–375 mμ and 290–300 mμ. The presence of both water and sodium hydroxide in the alumina is necessary for the formation of the yellow color in confirmation of previous work. A study of the gain in weight of the alumina with time of contact with carbon disulphide showed that this reaction begins to level off after about 24 hours. A minimum value for the heat evolved for the alumina–carbon disulphide system was determined as 8.6 cal. per g. of alumina reacting with an excess of carbon disulphide.