Measurement of Arrhenius Parameters of the Second-Order Decomposition of Ethanal (CH3CHO)

P. N. Ekemezie

Abstract: The Arrhenius parameter of the second-order decomposition of 2.5M ethanal was determined at different temperatures (700, 760, 810, 910K). The amounts of the ethanal remaining at specific time intervals were monitored with GC MS and the values of rate constant K evaluated. From the graph of InK vs I/T plotted the activation energy, Ea for the decomposition was determined to be 189KJmoL-1 and Arrhenius constant gave 1.1 x 1012dm3miL-1. This implies that the thermal decomposition of acetaldehyde (ethanal) is strongly dependent on temperature.

Keywords: Arrhenius parameter, rate constant, activation energy, thermal decomposition