Abstract
IN a paper describing experiments on the photochemical decomposition of nitrous oxide (J. Chem. Soc., 1; 1928) Dr. James Younger Macdonald finds among other things that four molecules of N2O decompose for each quantum of energy absorbed. The striking agreement between this value of M/hv and the value obtained for M/N in the α-ray reaction suggests, according to Lind (J. Phys. Chem., 32, 575; 1928), a similarity in the mechanism of decomposition, namely, clustering about an excited N2O molecule on one hand and about an ionised one on the other. This suggestion deserves consideration, especially in view of the failure of mechanism proposed by Macdonald, namely,
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
LEWIS, B. Photochemical Clustering. Nature 121, 792 (1928). https://doi.org/10.1038/121792a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/121792a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.