Ultrasonic Studies in Chemically Active Liquid Media (1) Aqueous Solution of N₂O₄

Abstract

Using a pulse method the ultrasonic absorption has been studied in the frequency range of 2 to 10 Mc/s in dilute aqueous solutions of nitrogen tetroxide gas at room temperature. The absorption peaks (αλ vs frequency) observed in this study are attributed to the ionic dissociation reaction of the nitrous acid into its constituent ions. The rate constants of the forward and backward reactions are calculated using the theory of Tabuchi. The variation of the logarithm of the rate constant of the bimolecular ionic reaction, namely, log₁₀ k_b, with the square root of ionic strength qualitatively follows Brönsted’s theory for ionic reactions in solutions.