Piotr Olszewski

Mass spectral studies on the mechanism of thermal decomposition of Zn(NO3)2·nH2O

Abstract Thermal decomposition of Zn(NO 3 ) 2 · n H 2 O ( n =4 and 6) was studied using TG, DTA and QMS techniques. Measurements were performed in helium and in dry air. It was found that the examined reaction is a multi-step process with overlapping stages. The whole process depends on the rate of heating. Degradation of nitrate(V) groups starts before all water of crystallisation is removed from the system. Zn(NO 3 ) 2 ·2Zn(OH) 2 was identified as intermediate product of decomposition of Zn(NO 3 ) 2 · n H 2 O.