Recombination of Oxygen Atoms in the Presence of Inert Gases

The recombination of oxygen atoms has been studied in an O2-free system containing a known initial atom concentration. The value of the rate constant for the reaction O+O+N2→O2+N2was found to be 2.8×10−33 cm6 molecule−2 sec−1. Failure to remove condensable products from the gas stream resulted in a 40% increase in the recombination rate. The efficiencies of other third bodies relative to N2 are: Ar, ≤0.3; He, 0.3; N2O, 1.4; CO2, 3.0; SF6, 3.0. The presence of vibrationally excited N2 did not affect the recombination rate. The wall recombination coefficient γ was found to be 1.65×10−5. Comparison of these results with high-temperature shock-tube results indicates that the temperature coefficient of the recombination is small.