THE KINETICS OF THE THERMAL, HYDROGEN—FLUORINE REACTION. I. MAGNESIUM REACTOR¹

Chain Reaction Mechanism in Hydrogen/Fluorine Combustion

“…The mixtures of H 2 and F 2 are known to explode spontaneously, and their explosion limits have been studied in the 1960–70s. − The kinetic behavior of H 2 /F 2 mixtures has also been examined in flow reactors. − These studies indicated rapid reactions of H 2 /F 2 mixtures even at room temperature due to the chain reaction mechanism outlined below. They also suggested inhibition of the reactions and explosions upon addition of a small amount of O 2 .…”

Thermal dissociation of oxygen difluoride. II. Static reactor

“…In testing these possibilities, we have assumed the thermochemistry indicated in ref 1. In most of the possibilities which have been considered, step 4 is assumed to be the chain-carrying mechanism. F -j-OF2 ..A OF -(-F2 (4) We have used as boundary conditions the experimental observations that we are dealing with an M-dependent reaction which is approximately first order in OF2. Several mechanistic schemes obtain to provide Independent solutions which are either first or 4/s order in OF2.…”

A Suggested Mechanism for the Hydrogen—Fluorine Reaction

“…They found the reaction rate to be proportional to fluorine concentration and independent of hydrogen concentration. This result can be explained by the reactions F + H2 -HF + (1) H + F2 -ÍV «HF* + (1 -a)HF + F (2) HF* + F2 -X HF + 2F…”

“…It is the purpose of this communication to suggest a mechanism which quantitatively accounts for the results of Levy and Copeland; it is hoped that this will provide a useful working hypothesis for planning future work. In their first paper, 1 Levy and Copeland investigated the reaction of hydrogen-fluorine mixtures diluted with nitrogen in a flow system at 110°. They found the reaction rate to be proportional to fluorine concentration and independent of hydrogen concentration.…”