Electron Density Rearrangement Description of Ion–Molecule Reactions

A description is proposed for low-energy ion–molecule reactions of the form A(±)+BC→AB(±)+C, which permits a prediction of the reaction cross section as either large or small. The description, restricted to reactions involving carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen (or combinations of these), is based on the idea that the probability for a reaction is determined by the nature of the change of electron density around the nuclear centers involved. The low-energy cross sections for 1 ion–molecule reactions are predicted and found in agreement with obs erved values, the majority of which have been obtained or confirmed by ion cyclotron resonance techniques.