Undergraduate Experiments in Physical Chemistry
5.09 The Gas-phase Photolysis of Acetaldehyde

Introduction || Location || Safety || Instructions

Introduction

In this experiment you will study the kinetics of the gas phase photolysis of acetaldehyde at 300C by pressure measurement and by product analysis using chromatography.

If acetaldehyde is photolysed completely at 300C, the final pressure is almost exactly double the initial pressure. One mole of aldehyde, therefore, gives two moles of products and the pressure change at any time during the reaction is a measure of the progress of the reaction. It is convenient to monitor the reaction by following this pressure change, and by the analysis of decomposition products.

Location

Lower Teaching Laboratory.

Safety

Wear safety glasses whenever the vacuum line used in this experiment is under reduced pressure. Wear safety glasses when handling liquid nitrogen.
MSDS data for
Acetaldehyde
Liquid nitrogen

Instructions

Instructions for this experiment are available for reference in a folder in the Lower Teaching Laboratory. You may obtain a personal copy from the technician in that laboratory, or download a copy in PDF format (7 pages).

Updated May 10, 2002.