THE KINETICS OF THE DECOMPOSITION REACTIONS OF THE LOWER PARAFFINS: VI. ETHANE

Abstract
The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of ethane have been investigated by the static method in the temperature range 565° to 640 °C. The reaction was found to be uninfluenced by surface. The rate of the reaction can be expressed by[Formula: see text]The products of the reaction are ethylene, hydrogen, and a small amount of methane and probably higher hydrocarbons.The reaction is discussed from the point of view of free radical mechanisms, and it is suggested that the results cast serious doubt on the validity of the Rice-Herzfeld mechanism and its modification by Küchler and Theile.

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