The association of oxygen atoms and their combination with nitrogen atoms

Abstract The rate constants of the reactions N + O + M = NO + M (2) O + O + M = O2 + M (4) have been determined in active nitrogen systems, nitric oxide being added to result in the partial production of oxygen atoms. The concentrations of these atoms were monitored by measurements of the intensity of the N2 First Positive emission and NO β emission. The following rate constants (in cm6 mole–2 s–1) were obtained at room temperature (298 °K) N2 Ar He 10–15k2 3.88 ± 0.30 2.98 ± 0.35 1.36 ± 0.17 10-14k4 11.3 ± 1.1 6.0 ± 0.6 4.6 + 0.4 In the range 196 to 327 °K, the temperature coefficient of reaction (2) corresponds to a T-½ dependence or an activation energy of –270 ± 120 cal/mole. This is unusually small for a three body recombination and contrasts with more ‘normal’ activation energy of –1420 ±350 cal/mole found for reaction (4). The NO β emission associated with reaction (2) has a similar temperature coefficient to the overall reaction, but is slightly enhanced by replacing the nitrogen carrier by argon. Our kinetic studies of this emission generally confirm the mechanism of Young & Sharpless (1962).