The Kinetics of the Homogeneous Thermal Decomposition of Ethyl Ether at Pressures up to Two Hundred Atmospheres

A new and simple apparatus is described by means of which it is possible to investigate the kinetics of homogeneous gas reactions up to pressures of several hundred atmospheres. With this apparatus the decomposition of gaseous ethyl ether has been investigated at 426 degrees C over the pressure range 2000 to 14,500 cm. The rate of reaction increases rapidly with pressure up to 10,000 cm and then increases more slowly. The rate at 14,500 cm is approximately 50 times greater than the previously assumed value at infinite pressure. It is shown that by assuming that the number of degrees of freedom involved varies with the time between molecular collisions it is possible to explain these results. Further investigations are in progress.