Activated Monochloroethyl Radicals in the Photochlorination of Ethylene

Abstract

Abstract The competitive photochlorination of ethylene and ethane has been studied at 310 °K in the absence and presence of added SF 6 and CO 2 . The results are interpreted by a mechanism involving the monomolecular dissociation and the collisional deactivation of activated chloroethyl radicals formed in the reaction Cl + C 2 H 4 → C 2 H 4 Cl*. The rate constant k 2 is found to be 4 · 10 10 mol −1 l sec −1 . The dissociative lifetime of C 2 H 4 Cl* is estimated and the deactivation of this radical by various molecules (Cl 2 , C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 4 , SF 2 and CO 2 ) is discussed.