The reactions of N(2P) with O2 and O

We have studied the kinetics of metastable N(2P) with atomic and molecular oxygen. The measurements were made in a discharge flow apparatus in which N(2P) was generated from the energy transfer reaction between N2(A) and ground state N(4S) and was monitored either by vacuum ultraviolet resonance fluorescence at 174 nm or else by observing the forbidden N(2P–4S) emission at 347 nm. The rate coefficient for N(2P) quenching by O2 is (2.2±0.4)×10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 and that for quenching by O is (1.7±0.4)×10−11 cm3 molecule−1 s−1. One channel of the reaction between N(2P) and atomic oxygen appears to produce NO+ via a chemi-ionization mechanism.