Shock-Tube Study of Nitrous Oxide Decomposition

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Abstract
The thermal decomposition of nitrous oxide has been studied in the temperature region from 1500° to 2200°K. Shock‐tube techniques, employing the region behind the initial shock waves, were used. Argon, nitric oxide, and oxygen were used as diluents with 2% nitrous oxide in order that the temperature may remain practically constant during the reaction. The nitric oxide—nitrous oxide reaction appears to be bimolecular with a rate constant k3=2.0×1014 exp[— (50 000/RT)]. The argon—nitrous oxide and oxygen—nitrous oxide reactions appear to be bimolecular at low concentrations but become unimolecular at higher concentrations. The maximum activation energy, 55 700 kcal, in the argon—nitrous oxide mixtures was obtained for the highest concentration, 1.50×10—4 mole/cc. It is shown that the decomposition occurs via the triplet states of nitrous oxide.

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