Synthesis of dichlorine monoxide

Abstract

A continuous reaction scheme and an apparatus were designed and developed to synthesize dichlorine monoxide. A convenient and reliable source of Cl2O was required because the compound is to be used to oxidize concentrated H2O to O2(1/Δ), which is to be used to pump an iodine laser; I(2P1/2) -> I(2P3/2) + hv Dichlorine monoxide is a hazardous compound that cannot be readily made and stored for subsequent utilization. The chemistry that was finally selected for the synthesis was the reaction of Cl2 with anhydrous sodium carbonate. The chlorine was diluted to approximately 25 mole percent with Nitrogen. The bed was periodically fluidized ("pulsed-fluidization") using only nitrogen. The surface the glass reactor was heated from 290° to 300°. Analyses were performed using an iodometric titration technique. The product gases were collected in carbon tetrachloride or in KI solution. The best chlorine conversion obtained was 89 percent.