The effect of inhibitors on the hydrogen-deuterium exchange reaction
The exchange reaction between hydrogen and deuterium in silica vessels at temperatures in the region of 560° C has been studied, the rate of formation of HD being determined by massspectrometer analysis. Nitric oxide and propylene are effective inhibitors of the reaction: both reduce the rate to the same limit. The fully inhibited reaction is approximately of the first order, its activation energy is about 19000 kcal/g. mol. and in packed vessels the rate is roughly proportional to the ratio of surface to volume. This residual reaction, unlike that in hydrocarbon pyrolysis, seems therefore to be almost entirely heterogeneous, all gas-phase reaction having been suppressed. These results and their bearing on the use of nitric oxide and olefines for the inhibition of chain reactions are discussed.