We report a shock-tube, laser-schlieren investigation of the molecular dissociation of the title trifluoroethane, CF3CH3 → CH2CF2 + HF, over very high temperatures, 1600−2400 K, and a wide range of sub-atmospheric pressures, 15−550 Torr. The density gradients are well fit by a simple two-reaction mechanism and accurate dissociation rates obtained. The results are compared with a k ∞ calculated from a G3 TS for this molecular elimination, which is a superb fit to the available lower-T data and a reliable extrapolation of k ∞ to high temperatures. The derived rate constants show a very deep falloff from this extrapolation but surprisingly little variation with pressure. This peculiarity is so severe that RRKM calculations dramatically fail to account for the behavior. The dissociation seems to be a clear example of an intrinsic non-RRKM process (nonstatistical dissociation). This conclusion is strongly supported by the observation of double vibrational relaxation at both dissociating and nondissociating temperatures, an unambiguous demonstration of slow IVR. Using a simple model with division into two groups of states, the deep falloff is found to be consistent with a rate-controlling slow IVR, not with low collision efficiency. The model suggests an IVR rate of ∼108 s-1 for dissociation energies.

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Dissociation, vibrational relaxation, and unimolecular incubation have all been observed in shock waves in isobutene with the laser-schlieren technique. Experiments covered a wide range of high-temperature conditions: 900-2300 K, and post-incident shock pressures from 7 to 400 torr in 2, 5, and 10% mixtures with krypton. The surprising observation is that of vibrational relaxation, well resolved over the full temperature range. The resolved process is completely exponential, with relaxation times in the range 20-120 ns atm. Relaxation and dissociation are clearly separated for T > 1850 K, with estimated incubation times near 200 ns atm. Incubation is essential for modeling of the very low-pressure decomposition. Modeling of gradients with a chain mechanism initiated by CH fission produces an excellent fit and accurate dissociation rates that show severe falloff. A restricted-rotor, Gorin-model RRKM analysis fits these rates quite well with the known bond-energy as barrier and E down = 680 cm −1 . The extrapolated k ∞ is log k ∞ (s −1 ) = 19.187-0.865 log T −87.337 (kcal/mol)/RT, in good agreement with previous work.

Vibrational relaxation has been seen in shock waves in propane, isobutene, isobutane, neopentane, and toluene dilute in krypton with the laser-schlieren technique. These experiments cover about 600-2200 K and post-shock pressures from 5 to 29 Torr. The process cannot be resolved in any for T<600 K, or in any for large molecule fraction. All the ultrasonic measurements of relaxation in these at room temperature show characteristic times in the 1-5 ns atm range, corresponding to fewer than five collisions, whereas the relaxation times in the shock waves range from 20 to 200 ns atm, with a clearly defined negative or "inverted" temperature dependence. It would seem the observed slowdown of relaxation with increasing T is simply a consequence of the much increased energy transfer required at high temperature in such large polyatomics when this is combined with a collision efficiency, here interpreted as down, already so large it cannot much increase. The simple method for the extraction of a down from relaxation data offered here by consideration of the energy relaxation equation for Evib=0 appears to be original and should prove quite useful in connecting thermal relaxation data to values obtained from spectroscopy and master-equation analyses. Here it is found that the derived down extrapolate well to room temperature ultrasonic measurements, showing a slight increase with temperature.

The effect of solution resistance on the nonlinear electrochemical impedance spectra under quasi-potentiostatic conditions was investigated by numerical simulations. An electron transfer reaction, a reaction with an adsorbed intermediate and a reaction exhibiting negative resistance were chosen as the candidates and large amplitude perturbations were employed. The potential across the interface drifts initially and stabilizes after a certain time, which depends on the solution resistance and the kinetic parameter values. The fraction of the applied potential drop occurring across the metal-solution interface depends on the frequency and the amplitude of the perturbation as well as the value of solution resistance. This in turn leads to the possibility that, for a given conditions, a part of the spectrum may be acquired in the linear regime while the remaining part may be acquired in the nonlinear regime. The sensitivity of the Kramers Kronig transform (KKT) to identify these cases is evaluated. The results show that although the spectra are distorted by poorly conducting solution, the sensitivity of KKT to identify the nonlinear effects is not enhanced by the introduction of significant solution resistance.