The study of decomposition reactions through the exchange of thermal energy

In many decomposition reactions, the reaction velocity can be described as a product of two functions: a temperature dependent part K(T) and the kinetic function f(1 – α), where T designates the temperature and α the fraction of reactant that has decomposed. The physical interpretation of these functions is discussed for both solid and homogeneous systems. A method is described by which f(1 – α) and K(T) can be determined from kinetic data. The mechanism of decomposition can subsequently be identified which should be consistent with the derived kinetic parameters. The method has been applied to analyze the kinetics of the thermal decomposition of nitromethane. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.