The Thermal Decomposition of Silver(II) Oxide

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of silver(II) oxide in a vacuum has been studied over the range 83-134 ^OC. The rates are quantitatively accounted for by the Polanyi-Wigner equation, the values of the vibration frequency at all stages being within a power of 10 of the expected theoretical value. Changes in the rate at different stages of the reaction are interpreted in terms of diffuseness of the reaction interface. This conclusion is supported by X-ray and surface area studies. The activation energy is 30 kcal. The activation energy associated with the removal of oxygen from the first layer has been shown to be the same as that for the subsequent reaction.