The reaction of cyanogen radicals with oxygen

The reaction between cyanogen radicals and oxygen has been studied and the rate constant for the reaction at room temperature found to be 4.6 × 1012 ml. mole-1 s-1. The reaction is predominantly CN+ O2 → NCO + O, with a contribution of < 15 % from the reaction CN + O2 → CO + NO. The nitric oxide produced in this reaction is vibrationally excited. In the presence of excess oxygen, ozone is produced in the reaction O + O2+M → O2 + M, for which the rate constant is found to be 1.1 ± 0.6 × 108 l.2 mole-2 s-1. A new spectrum has been observed and is assigned to the molecules N 2C2O or NCO2CN produced in the reaction CN+ NCO → N2C2O or CN + NCO2 → NCO2CN.