ABSTRACT
Iron isotope fractionation between liquid and vapor iron pentacarbonyl was measured in a closed system at approximately 0 and approximately 21 degrees C to determine if Fe isotope analysis of iron pentacarbonyl vapor is viable using electron-impact, gas-source mass spectrometry. At the 2sigma level, there is no significant Fe isotope fractionation between vapor and liquid under conditions thought to reflect equilibrium. Experiments at approximately 0 degrees C indicate iron pentacarbonyl vapor is approximately 0.05 per mil (per thousand) greater in (56)Fe/(54)Fe than liquid iron pentacarbonyl, which is just resolvable at the 1sigma level. Partial decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl vapor or liquid to an iron oxide or iron metal shows that significant isotopic fractionation occurs, where the decomposed product has a lower (56)Fe/(54)Fe ratio as compared to the starting iron pentacarbonyl. It follows that methods to decompose iron pentacarbonyl must be quantitative to obtain accurate isotope values.
