Thermodynamics of the Vaporization of Cr2O3: Dissociation Energies of CrO, CrO2, and CrO3

The vaporization of Cr2O3 under neutral and oxidizing conditions has been studied using mass spectrometric methods. The vaporization proceeds with the formation of Cr, CrO, CrO2, O, and O2 as the principal gaseous species. Under oxidizing conditions CrO3 was also observed. Dissociation energies of the gaseous molecules are D00(CrO)=101.1±7 kcal/mole, D00(CrO2)=227.1±15 kcal/mole, and D00(CrO3)=341±20 kcal/mole.