Open AccessHomogeneous catalysis of gaseous reactions. Part III.—The decomposition of acetaldehyde catalysed by iodine
Publication year - 1930
Publication title -
proceedings of the royal society of london. series a, containing papers of a mathematical and physical character
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2053-9150
pISSN - 0950-1207
DOI - 10.1098/rspa.1930.0096
Subject(s) - acetaldehyde , iodine , chemistry , catalysis , decomposition , iodide , homogeneous , carbon monoxide , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , ethanol , thermodynamics , physics
The normal decomposition of acetaldehyde into carbon monoxide and methane is bimolecular, and occurs with conveniently measurable velocity at 500°C. and above. At 400°C. the rate is very small indeed. In presence of small amounts of iodine a rapid catalytic reaction takes place. This reaction was investigated by the method described in the preceding papers. As before, the iodine was produced by the decomposition of isopropyl iodide in the reaction vessel. The supply of liquid acetaldehyde, from which vapour was drawn off for the experiments, had been freshly distilled in an all-glass apparatus, and boiled between 21° and 22°C.