Destruction of Acetylene in Flames with Oxygen

The rate of consumption of acetylene in premixed flames is compared with the simultaneous rates of disappearance of oxygen, supposed to react by H+O2⇄OH+O, and appearance of carbon dioxide, OH+CO→CO2+H. The comparisons are consistent with a consumption of acetylene by O atoms but not by H, OH, or O2. The destruction probably involves a direct attack of O on carbon in acetylene with a rate constant of 1 to 2×1013 cm3 mole—1 sec—1 and little temperature dependence.