Reactions of oxygen atoms. Part 3.—Reaction of O(23PJ) and O(21D2) with CO and CO2

Abstract

Direct measurements of O(2³P_J) by kinetic absorption spectroscopy in the vacuum ultra-violet have been used to investigate the rate of the reaction O(2³P_J)+ CO + M →CO₂+ M (6) The results obtained were: k₆(M = Ar)= 1.4 ± 0.7 × 10^–35cm⁶ molecule^–2 s^–1, k₆(M = He)= 1.4 ± 0.7 × 10^–35cm⁶ molecule^–2s^–1. at 300 K. Oxygen atoms were produced initially in the O(2¹D₂) state following the flash photolysis of CO₂ in the wavelength region 110–160 nm. It is concluded that both CO₂ and CO quench O(2¹D₂) to the electronic ground state in these experiments.