THE KINETICS OF THE OXIDATION OF GASEOUS ACETONE

Abstract

The oxidation of gaseous acetone is a homogeneous chain reaction between 350° and 500 °C. The effect of pressure on the rate of the reaction indicates an "order" somewhat greater than three. The indications are that the first step in the reaction consists of the formation of an unstable peroxide. The predominant reaction then appears to be the formation of acetic and formic acids together with their products of oxidation and decomposition. The actual course of the reaction varies somewhat as the temperature changes.The temperature coefficient and the effects of surface and of foreign gases show that the chain length is comparatively short and varies with temperature. The process by which the chains are initiated is probably bimolecular. The reaction differs from most oxidation reactions of the chain type in that the concentrations of the two reactants are about equally important in so far as their effect on the rate of the reaction is concerned.