The mechanism of the hydrogen-oxygen reaction II. The reaction occurring between the second and third explosion limits

Abstract

Abstract The equation for the rate of combination of hydrogen and oxygen, based upon the most probable chain mechanism, is very complicated and difficult to apply, without drastic approximations, to the experimental results. A new method of approach is here employed: the equation is factorized by considering first the condition for the third explosion limit (preceding paper) which allows the determination of most of the constants. With the help of these results the rate expression can be tested^ and the form of the function describing the initiating reaction examined. It is concluded that, under the experimental conditions, the chains are probably initiated by the dissociation of hydrogen: H2 + M = 2H.