The photolysis of gaseous aldehydes. IV. Mixtures of acetaldehyde with formaldehyde and acetone, and the photolysis of glyoxal

Abstract

The rate of acetaldehyde photolysis in presence of acetone showed an increase due to chain initiation by methyl radicals from the photo-decomposition of the acetone. In the presence of formaldehyde the acetaldehyde rate decreased, implying that the decomposition of formyl radicals was slower than that of acetyl. Glyoxal photolysis at long wavelengths confirmed previously found low ratios of H₂ to CO. Added acetaldehyde and formaldehyde decreased the rate of the photolysis possibly owing to collisional deactivation of excited glyoxal molecules.