Chemical Reaction in Silent Electric Discharge. I. The Mechanism of Ozone Formation

The ozone formation reactions in the silent electric discharge starting from oxygen under atmospheric pressure and varied electric conditions were investigated. The results were found to be in line with the theory based on the postulates of reactional and electrical pattern, proposed earlier by authors. The reaction regime in discharge columns where the main reactions proceed is unusual. The duration of high frequency discharge which initiates the primary reactions is extremely short compared to the apparent duration of discharge of basic primary current. Thus, in the discharge columns a non-steady reaction regime is established. A rate theory is developed for the processes in silent discharge based on a non-steady state assumption, which is acceptable in view of the experimental results. The proposed pattern of processes is useful for obtaining more detailed mechanism of the reaction involved.