The reaction between solid triphenylmethyl chloride(TPMCl)
and water, TPMCl(s) + H
2O(l)
TPMOH(aq) + H
+(aq) + Cl
-(aq), whereTPMOH is triphenylmethyl alcohol, has been investigated using thechannel flowcell method. It is found that hydrolysis proceeds via a directheterogeneous fashion whereby the reaction occurs
atthe solid-liquid interface rather than in solution after the priordissolution of TPMCl. Kinetic parameters are reportedincluding the effect of ionic strength. Further, using experimentsconducted with different surfaces of single crystalsof TPMCl, it is shown that the rate of the interfacial process dependson the availability of exposed chlorine atomsin the reacting crystal plane. In situ atomic force microscopicstudies indicate that the TPMCl surface, once incontact with water, is covered rapidly by a porous product layer.However, the latter provides a negligible effect onthe reaction rate because of its high porosity.