Photolysis of Ethane at 1470 A

Abstract

The photolysis of ethane at 1470 A has been investigated in the temperature range 25° to 240°C and over a wide range of initial ethane pressures. As reaction products were found mainly H2, CH4, C3H3, and C4H10. Traces of ethylene and, not identified, higher hydrocarbons were also detected. The results indicate that the primary step in the photolysis of ethane is C2H6+hν→C2H5+H.The amounts and ratios of products, formed during the photolysis, indicate that the reaction mechanism of the photolysis is similar to that of the Hg photosensitized decomposition of ethane. A few experiments on the photolysis of CO2 at 1470 A indicate that[open phi]CO increases with increasing temperatures.