THERMAL DISSOCIATION OF CHLORINE TRIFLUORIDE BEHIND INCIDENT SHOCK WAVES

The thermal dissociation of ClF3 behind incident shock waves has been studied in the temperature range of 800-1300°K. The course of the dissociation was followed by means of ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy centered at 2200 ± 250 Å. Initial slope measurements gave a value of k1 = 1013.5±0.4 exp -[(28,200 ± 1700)/ RT] cc/mol sec for the rate constant of the reaction ClF3 + M = ClF2 + F + M. The collision efficiency of ClF relative to argon was found to be 35 ± 5 to 1. Evidence is presented which favors a heat of formation for ClF2 of -19 ± 2 kcal/mol at 0°K.