The kinetics study of the S + S2 → S3 reaction by the chaperone mechanism

The recombination of S atoms has been found to be stepwise from the smallest unit, the elemental S atom, to the most abundant molecule S(8). The reaction between S + S(2) → S(3) has not been reported either experimentally or by theory, but may be a key intermediate step in the formation of sulfur aerosols in low-O(2) atmospheres. In this work, the kinetics of this reaction is reported with Ar gas used as the chaperone molecule in the production of S(3) via two complex intermediates: SAr + S(2) and S(2)Ar + S. Quasi-classical and classical trajectory methods are used. The rate constant of the S + S(2) + Ar → S(3) + Ar reaction is determined to be 2.66 × 10(-33) cm(6) mol(-1)?s(-1) at 298.15 K. The temperature dependence of the reaction is found to be 2.67 × 10(-33) exp[143.56(1∕T-1∕298.15)]. The second-order rate constant of S + S(2) → S(3) is 6.47 × 10(-14) cm(3)?molecule(-1)?s(-1) at 298.15 K and the Arrhenius-type rate constant is calculated to be 6.25 × 10(-14) exp[450.15(1∕T-1∕298.15)] cm(3)?molecule(-1)?s(-1). This work provides a rate coefficient for a key intermediate species in studies of sulfur formation in the modern Venus atmosphere and the primitive Earth atmosphere, for which assumed model rate coefficients have spanned nearly 4 orders of magnitude. Although a symmetry-induced mass-independent isotope effect is not expected for a chaperone mechanism, the present work is an important step toward evaluating whether mass-independence is expected for thiozone formation as is observed for ozone formation.     

Kinetic analysis of the crystallization processes in the glasses of the Bi–As–S system

Kinetic analysis of the crystallization process in Bi₄(As₂S₃)₉₆ and Bi₆(As₂S₃)₉₄ glasses was performed based on DSC curves recorded under non-isothermal measurement conditions. Samples were thermally treated at different heating rates in the temperature range 300?C770?K. The activation energy of crystallization E and the pre-exponential factor K ₀ are determined by the Kissinger method and the characteristic crystallization parameters m and n of investigated glasses by the Matusita method. For both crystallization processes the glass with 4 at.% of Bi is characterized by the mechanism of volume nucleation, which is manifested in the form of two-dimensional growth at the first crystallization process, and as three-dimensional at the second one. On the other hand, in the sample with 6 at.% Bi, the average value of the parameter m is close to one, which indicates one-dimensional crystal growth. Compatibility of the values of the parameters m and n suggests that this sample has a large number of crystallization centers, which do not increase significantly during the thermal treatment.