Photochemical Studies in Flash Photolysis. I. Photolysis of Acetone

Abstract

The high-intensity flash photolysis of acetone was investigated using an exploding wire as a light source. Experiments were conducted with the unfiltered light of the flash, containing light in the near as well as in the far ultraviolet region of the spectrum. The results show that the C2H6/CO ratio in the reaction products is about 1.25 and is fairly insensitive to variation in acetone pressure. Addition of small amounts of biacetyl lowers the ratio still further. This is attributed to the deactivation of a long-lived excited acetone molecule formed in the ultraviolet region below 210 mµ. Addition of butane lowers the ratio far below unity. The CH4/CO ratio has the constant value of 0.1 for various light intensities, acetone pressures, pressures of added butane or of carbon dioxide. A convenient way of separating small amounts of ethane from very large amounts of carbon dioxide is described.

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