Session 4: Discussion

G. MENKEN Interatom, Germany

Do you have the free energy values for your equations shown on the first slide?

R. N. NEWMAN Berkeley Nuclear Laboratories

The free energy data for the reactions I have quoted can be obtained from JANAF Thermochemical Tables (Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Michigan, 1970). A comprehensive list of all thermochemical properties for the reactions can be found in this source.

Broadly speaking, for the qualitative description of the combustion given, the precise proportions of NaOH, Na20 and possibly NaH formed are not relevant. At temperatures up to the boiling point of sodium, reactions I and II will be displaced to the right. The reactions involving NaH are not included since, at 1 atmosphere pressure in a flowing system, this compound will not be a major product at the higher temperatures. The gas phase reactions producing NaOH and Na20 smoke, III and IV, are feasible at temperatures up to about 1900K, after which they will be reversed. Since these are the major reactions in the flame zone, 1900K would be expected to be the maximum obtainable flame temperature.