Catalytic Effects of Lanthanide Oxides on the Thermal Decomposition of Barium Perchlorate

Catalytic activities exerted by the lanthanide oxides Ln2O3 (Ln=La, Sm, Gd and Dy) (0.25 mol%) on the thermal decomposition of barium perchlorate were studied gasometrically at 718 K. The α vs. t plot for the salt alone displays (i) initial gas evolution (ii) an induction period, (iii) a short acceleratory stage and (iv) a long decay stage. For the mixtures with Ln2O3, phenomena (i) and (ii) are not observed. Ln2O3 enhances the rate of reaction in both the acceleratory and the decay stage, and increases the fraction decomposed, α, in the sequence La2O3>Gd2O3>Sm2O3,>Dy2O3.