Probability of reaction of H with N2O as a function of energy

Abstract

The net probabilities of reactions (1) and (2) have been determined as a function of the initial kinetic energy of H^* by analysis of the products of photolysis, at various wavelengths, of HI mixed with N₂O. H^*+ N₂O → N₂+ OH (1), H^*+ N₂O → NO + NH (2), Reaction (1) is predominant at all energies studied. The results have been used to calculate a crude excitation function for reaction (1), which has a maximum cross section of about 6 × 10^–3 nm².

By using the excitation function to calculate rate coefficients, which are in good agreement with experimental values, the hot atom results are shown to be consistent with measurements of the rate of (1) in thermal systems at high temperatures.