Studies on the ionization produced by metallic salts in flames I. The determination of the collision frequency of electrons in coal-gas/air flames

As an introduction to the study of reactions contingent on ionization in flames, an experimental measurement has been made of the collision frequency of electrons with molecules in coal-gas/air flames, containing added alkali metal salt. This quantity is an important parameter in the expression relating the electron content of a flame with the attenuation of centimetric radio waves by it. This attenuation has been chosen as a convenient method of investigating flame ionization. The form of the results obtained agree well with the predictions of theory, a uniform difference of about 20 % between measured collision frequency and that calculated on a very simple gas kinetic hypothesis being obtained. A suitable conversion factor has been evolved for proceeding from attenuation of 3 cm. waves to electron concentration/cm.3.