Reaction calorimetry applied to kinetic problems. The design and construction of an isothermal calorimeter with heat compensation by the Peltier effect, and the application of the calorimeter in the study of reaction kinetics in solvent/water mixtures.

An isothermal calorimeter controlled by the Peltier effect has been designed and constructed in order to investigate reaction rates in solventwater mixtures. Because a thermal method was used a constant temperature environment was essential and this was achieved by using a water bath controlled to + 0.0010C. This callorinieter has been used to study the alkaline hydrolysis of methyl acetate in dimethylsulphoxide, and tetrahydrofuran - water mixtures at 15, 25 and 35 [degrees]C. The results of other investigations on similar reactions have been reviewed and an attempt has been made to correlate the electrostatic theories of Laidler and Eyring, and Amis and jaffe with these results. Finally, because it appears that specific solvent interactions play a major part in the reaction rates the role of water in the reaction mechanism has been examined. A mechanistic explanation has been proposed in order to correlate the rate of reaction with the composition of water-solvent mixtures which justifies the Laidler and Eyring treatment of solvent effects on ion-molecule reactions.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Bradford

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Canning, R.G.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Diaper, John

• Reaction calorimetry
• Kinetic problems
• Isothermal calorimeter
• Peltier effect
• Reaction kinetics
• Solvent / water mixtures

Statement dc:rights

• <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-nd/3.0/88x31.png" /></a><br />The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons Licence</a>.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10454/4227

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:bradscholars.brad.ac.uk:10454/4227