KINETICS OF THE HOMOGENEOUS REACTION BETWEEN CUPRIC ACETATE AND MOLECULAR HYDROGEN IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION

Abstract

Cupric acetate was found to react homogeneously with molecular hydrogen in aqueous solution according to the following equation:[Formula: see text]The paper describes a kinetic study of this reaction. Rates were determined at temperatures between 80 and 140 °C and hydrogen partial pressures between 6.8 and 34.0 atm. The reaction was found to be of second order, the rate being proportional to the concentrations of cupric acetate and molecular hydrogen. It was established that the rate was independent of the surface of the reaction vessel, the cuprous oxide product and of the concentrations of sodium acetate and acetic acid in the solution. The reaction has an activation energy of 24200 cal. per mole. The kinetic results are discussed and a mechanism is proposed. This appears to be one of the few known homogeneous reactions of molecular hydrogen in solution.