Temperature effect on nascent rotational state distribution of product MgH in reaction of Mg(3s3p1P1)+H2→MgH+H

A pump-and-probe technique is utilized to yield a population distribution over the rotational quantum states of the nascent product MgH in the reaction of Mg(1P1) and H2. The resulting normalized profile of the MgH bimodal distribution at 693 K coincides with that at 733 K, as well as with the results obtained at 380 K by Breckenridge and co-workers. This temperature dependence demonstrates that the bimodality actually results from the insertive reaction alone. This conclusion is consistent with the isotopic effect.