Ion–Molecule Reactions of C+ with N2 and O2

Using a tandem mass spectrometer, the reactions C++X2→X2++C →X+X++C →CX++C, where X is either nitrogen or oxygen, were studied in the ion energy range 5–200 eV. By studying the attenuation of the C+ ion beam as a function of N2 pressure at various electron energies, and by measuring the ion–molecule reaction cross sections at different electron energies, it was possible to estimate the contribution of the 2P and 4P states of C+ to the reactions.