THE CATALYTIC DECOMPOSITION OF NITROUS OXIDE AND THE THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF NITROGEN DIOXIDE

摘要

The reaction between atomic oxygen and nitrous oxide has been studied at temperatures ranging from 1500°K to 2100°K. The atomic oxygen in this study was generated by either the thermal decomposition of nitrogen dioxide or the thermal decomposition of ozone. To determine the amount of atomic oxygen released in the thermal decomposition of nitrogen dioxide it was necessary to study this decomposition in detail. This study was conducted also at temperatures ranging from 1500°K to 2000°K and over a wide range of concentrations and pressures. The reaction rates obtained for the various steps in the decomposition of nitrogen dioxide are in general agreement with those obtained by other investigators. The reaction of nitrous oxide in the presence of nitrogen dioxide with argon as the diluent was studied to deter-mine if the oxygen released in the decomposition of nitrogen dioxide would accelerate the decomposition of nitrous oxide. No noticeable acceleration was observed.