0000000000341477
AUTHOR
Peter Warneck
Product Quantum Yields for the 350 nm Photodecomposition of Pyruvic Acid in Air
Quantum yields for the products CH3CHO, CO2 and CH3COOH in the 350 nm photodecomposition of pyruvic acid are 0.48 ± 0.01, 1.27 ± 0.18 and 0.14, respectively, as measured in air at atmospheric pressure. In the presence of NO2 the quantum yield for CH3CHO was reduced to 0.30 ± 0.04 and peroxyacetyl nitrate was formed with a quantum yield of 0.15 ± 0.02. This is taken to indicate the formation of acetyl radicals in one of the primary processes.
The Dissociation Constant of Pyruvic Acid: Determination by Spectrophotometric Measurements
Aqueous solutions of sodium pyruvate/hydrochloric acid mixtures were studied with regard to changes in the intensity of optical absorption at 317 nm wavelength, caused by varying pH and temperature. The data were evaluated to determine the pyruvic acid apparent dissociation constant at infinite dilution. Its temperature dependence followed the relation ln Kod = −(0.55 ± 0.47) − (1538 ± 135)/T or, if previous results of Pedersen at two temperatures are included, In Kod = −(0.97 ± 0.35) − (1418 ± 102)T. The effective absorption coefficient for pyruvic acid and its anion differ because the former species is largely hydrated, whereas the latter is not. The known hydration constant and its tempe…