A Study of the Cn Emission From Active Nitrogen Flames

When organic compounds are added to active nitrogen, the red and violet bands of the CN radical are emitted. The relative intensities of these red bands have been measured for a variety of added compounds, temperatures, and pressures. It is shown that there are at least three processes producing electronically excited CN radicals, two yielding CN(A 2 II) and one yielding CN(B 2 ∑). The behavior of the flames indicates that a chain mechanism is involved. Adding ammonia, which does not react with nitrogen atoms, quenches the CN emission and inhibits the consumption of nitrogen atoms. It is concluded that a second reactive species in active nitrogen, possibly metastable N 2 (A 3 ∑) molecules, initiates the reactions which result in light emission.