The kinetics of gas phase reactions studied in a "homogeneous reactor"

Abstract

The use of a "well-stirred" or "homogeneous" reactor in kinetic studies of gas phase reactions has been examined to assess the sensitivity of the method to the criteria upon which its use is based. The effects of heterogeneous and homogeneous secondary reactions are considered and the validity of the assumption of homogeneity has been examined experimentally for conditions similar to those which have been used elsewhere. The atom sink presented by the excess reagent under pseudo first order conditions results in failure of the homogeneity assumption. However, it is found that homogeneity is not required for successful use of the method provided the analytical measurements have good spatial resolution and the reaction volume is well-defined. The method is illustrated by using it to study some reactions of O(3P).