Photolysis of Nitrous Oxide at 1470 Å

Nitrous oxide, in the pressure range of 1–760 torr, has been photolyzed at 1470 Å. The rates of N2, O2, and NO formations are independent of the N2O pressure. The quantum yields are φN2=1.40±0.02, φO2=0.58±0.03, and φNO=0.78±0.03. A reaction scheme for the photodecomposition of nitrous oxide is given, and a quantitative correlation of the observed product yields with those expected from the proposed mechanism is demonstrated.