Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Reduction of the Alkali and Alkaline Earth Halides by Active Hydrogen

Abstract

IN the course of investigations on the reduction of metal halides by atomic hydrogen, using apparatus previously described1,2, I have found that the halides of lithium, sodium, potassium and caesium are all reduced to metal and hydrogen halide, resulting in the formation of metal mirrors on the walls of the reaction tube. The reaction apparently takes place in the vapour state during sublimation of the halides which is caused by the rise in temperature due to atomic recombinations. Unreduced sublimed halide may co-deposit with the metals or be deposited separately depending on temperature and relative volatility. It is possible to derive relative reaction rates for the halides: these are shown below:

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. McTaggart, F. K., and Turnbull, A. G., Aust. J. Chem., 17, No. 7, 727 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. McTaggart, F. K., Nature, 199, 339 (1963).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McTAGGART, F. Reduction of the Alkali and Alkaline Earth Halides by Active Hydrogen. Nature 206, 616 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1038/206616a0

Download citation

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/206616a0

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing