Reaction of Nitrogen Atoms with Ozone

The reaction of ozonized oxygen and active nitrogen at room temperature has been shown to produce, almost exclusively, nitrous oxide. Rate measurements in a flow system have been analyzed as involving a primary reaction N+O3→NO+O2. Accepting present values for the specific rates of subsequent reactions of nitric oxide, the rate of the primary reaction is found to be 1010 ml/mole sec. This is several orders faster than the reaction of nitrogen atoms and oxygen molecules and many orders faster than the three-body recombination of atomic nitrogen and atomic oxygen, substantiating the Barth-Kaplan suggestion of the probable source of nitric oxide in the upper atmosphere.