Nickel Carbonyl: Decomposition in Air and Related Kinetic Studies

Nickel carbonyl [Ni(CO)₄] is a toxic gas used in the manufacture of metallic nickel which has been shown to be carcinogenic and teratogenic in laboratory studies. Its decomposition in air proceeds at a rate that is strongly dependent on the concentration of carbon monoxide (CO). In the absence of CO, the lifetime in air at 296 degrees K and at atmospheric pressure is 60 ± 5 seconds. A mechanism consisting of equilibrium unimolecular decomposition to Ni(CO)₃ and CO, followed by reaction of the Ni(CO)₃ with molecular oxygen, is consistent with the observations.