Knowledge Bank

The reaction of ozone with ethylene has been investigated with the help of a microwave spectrometer and a mass spectrometer. Two types of experiments have been made so far. In the first Set-up, computer-controlled flows of ozone and ethylene were mixed directly in the Stark cell of a conventional microwave spectrometer. Pressures around 100 mTorr and temperatures between $ -20^{\circ} C$ and $-70\circ C$ were employed in the Stark cell. Different reaction products were identified either by their microwave spectra or by mass spectroscopy at the outlet of the Stark cell. In the second arrangement, the reaction between ozone and ethylene was carried out in a linear reactor at $+20\circ C$ and pressures of a few Torr. The reaction mixture then passed rapidly through the Stark cell and the mass spectrometer.