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Correlation between Chemi-ionization in Flames containing Organic Fuels and the Heat of Oxidation of the Carbon in the Fuel Molecule

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Abstract

THE “chemi-ionization” which occurs when organic compounds are burned, either alone or mixed with hydrogen, in oxygen or air has received much attention. Data obtained by means of the flame ionization detector used in gas chromatographic work1–4, and studies of ionization in flames at reduced pressure5, show that when a variety (and sufficiently large number) of organic compounds is examined, certain regularities of behaviour become apparent. First, when traces of such a compound are introduced into a hydrogen/oxygen/ nitrogen flame, the number of free electrons produced is proportional to the concentration of the compound in the flame gases. Secondly, for equimolar concentrations of compounds which are members of the same homologous series, the number of electrons varies linearly with the number of carbon atoms in the molecule. Thirdly, when the compound contains C == C or C ≡ C bonds5, the number of electrons is increased with respect to the corresponding paraffin, and reduced when it contains oxygen.

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  1. Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Cambridge,

    E. M. BULEWICZ

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  1. E. M. BULEWICZ
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BULEWICZ, E. Correlation between Chemi-ionization in Flames containing Organic Fuels and the Heat of Oxidation of the Carbon in the Fuel Molecule. Nature 211, 961–963 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/211961a0

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