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Chemistry Forums for Students => Analytical Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: mrydberg on November 23, 2019, 03:57:48 PM

Title: Pyrolysis fragmentation mechanism
Post by: mrydberg on November 23, 2019, 03:57:48 PM
Hello all,

I previously got some help here on the topic of how to induce and track thermal fragmentation of molecules which was very helpful. Now I am wondering if there is anyone that could tell me about how this actually happens? I am familiar with the fragmentation pathways of EI-MS but when it is only thermal energy involved, how does the fragmentation initiate? Is it always at the weakest bond? Is it predictable and repeatable? Why do recombination products sometimes form at a given temperature but not at others? Questions like these, primarily as they relate to techniques such as Pyrolysis-GC-MS is what I would like help with.

If these questions require more underlying knowledge than can be communicated here to properly get a grasp on, where could I go to learn about it? Thank you!