THE KINETICS OF THE DECOMPOSITION REACTIONS OF THE LOWER PARAFFINS: IV. THE ROLE OF FREE RADICALS IN THE DECOMPOSITION OF n-BUTANE

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Abstract
An investigation has been made of the inhibition of free radical chain processes in the decomposition of n-butane by the addition of nitric oxide. The method was to initiate chains in butane at low temperatures by means of ethylene oxide, and then to investigate the efficiency of nitric oxide in suppressing these chains.It was found that nitric oxide is not completely efficient as a chain breaker, inasmuch as sensitization by ethylene oxide persisted in the presence of large amounts of nitric oxide. It is therefore concluded that maximum inhibition of organic decomposition reactions by nitric oxide does not in all cases correspond to complete suppression of chains, and hence the real chain length in such reactions may be greater than that inferred from the results of the nitric oxide inhibition method.

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