Reaction of oxygen atoms with ethanol

Abstract

Reaction of O(3P) atoms with ethanol in the vapor phase has been studied at room temperature. The principal initial reaction products are water, acetaldehyde, and 2,3-butanediol. The data are consistent with abstraction of an α-hydrogen from ethanol as the primary step in the reaction. Ethanol is found to react with O(3P) atoms about 3.5 times less rapidly than acetaldehyde. The approximate absolute value of the rate constant of the ethanol reaction at 25 °C is 6.2 × 1010 cm3 mole−1 s−1.As a corollary to the investigation of the reaction of oxygen atoms with ethanol, a brief study has been made of the mercury Hg 6(3P1) photosensitized decomposition of ethanol at room temperature.