Thermal decomposition of some alkali-metal oxalate monohydrates and monoperhydrates

Abstract

The kinetics of the decomposition of a series of alkali-metal oxalate perhydrates and their related hydrates have been studied by a combination of thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and optical microscopy. The behaviour of the perhydrates is strikingly similar to that of the related hydrate (where this exists). The kinetic formulations which best fit the decompositions have been ascribed and activation energies obtained for experiments carried out in a static atmosphere (E_a= 64–208 kJ mol^–1 for perhydrates, 98–250 kJ mol^–1 for hydrates).