CN emission in the reaction of active nitrogen with methanol

Abstract

The chemiluminescence from the CN radical in the reaction of active nitrogen with methanol has been studied from 296 to 438 K. The effects of various quenchers and the kinetic behaviour of the chemiluminescence indicate that it is excited by nitrogen atom recombination rather than energy transfer from N₂(A³∑⁺_u). The concentration of the organic precursor to the emission is controlled by a different reaction which is probably bimolecular. The excited CN radicals are formed in the reaction N + CH → CN(B²∑⁺)+ H.