Fragmentation of Methane by Electron Impact, and the Latent Heat of Sublimation of Carbon

Abstract

The ions produced in the fragmentation of methane by electron impact have been found to be formed with initial kinetic energy. Taking this energy into account, the electron impact data on methane are shown to be compatible with the spectroscopically acceptable value of 171 kcal/mole for the latent heat of sublimation of carbon in agreement with the value obtained by direct measurement.