The Mobility of Acetylene Ions in Air

Abstract

The mobilities in air of the positive and negative ions produced in acetylene by means of the alpha-rays from polonium have been measured by means of a blast method. It is found that in acetylene, as in air, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and argon, only one negative ion is formed. This ion has the same mobility in air as have the negative ions formed in the other gases referred to. On the other hand, the positive ion formed in acetylene differs from those formed in the other gases in that it does not, at least up to an age of one second, change over into a more stable ion of smaller mobility. The positive ion of acetylene has a mobility slightly less than that of the negative ion and in this respect resembles the initial positive ion of hydrogen. The initial positive ions in air, carbon dioxide and argon have the same mobility as have the negative ions of these gases. It is also found that a neutral acetylene molecule is able to take up the charge of the final positive ion formed in air and in nitrogen. The resulting positive ion has the same mobility in air as the normal positive acetylene ion. This indicates that the process is of the nature of an electron interchange rather than a chemical oxidation effect.