KINETICS OF THE THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE VAPOR

Abstract

The rates of thermal decomposition of hydrogen peroxide vapor were measured by the static method at low pressures (0.2 to 20 mm. Hg), over the temperature range 300°–600 °C., in carefully cleaned glass vessels. The reaction was of the first order with respect to time and the final products were only water and oxygen. Around 400 °C. the character of the reaction changed gradually from heterogeneous (surface effects, low activation energy) to homogeneous (reproducible rates in various vessels). With initial pressures of about 10 mm. Hg the experimental rates above 400° lead to an apparent activation energy of 43 kcal. and a frequency factor of 1010.7. After correction for the residual surface decomposition, the rate equation becomes[Formula: see text]in good agreement with the accepted value for the O—O bond dissociation energy. The reaction rates increased regularly with pressure.Packing the reaction vessels with glass rods and adding various gases (including nitric oxide and propylene) had no appreciable effect on the gas-phase reaction. Deuterium peroxide vapor decomposed at the same rate as hydrogen peroxide under comparable conditions. The results may be explained adequately by the following non-chain mechanism for the uncatalyzed decomposition:[Formula: see text]