Elementary reactions of the NCl radical. Part 2.—Kinetics of the NCl + ClO and NCl + NO reactions

Abstract

The reaction kinetics of ground-state NCl(X³Σ^–) radicals have been studied in a discharge–flow system at 295 K. The time-resolved decay of NCl in the presence of an excess of ClO(X²Π) and NO(X²Π) was followed using molecular-beam mass spectrometry and compared with those for analogous radical–radical reactions. NCl + ClO → ClNO + Cl; k₁=(2.3 ± 0.2)× 10^–11 cm³ s^–1, NCl + NO → N₂O + Cl; k₂=(1.4 ± 0.1)× 10^–11 cm³ s^–1. Observations supporting the indicated reaction products are discussed. These are the first determinations of the rate constants for the above reactions. The values determined are compared with those for analogous radical–radical reactions.