A tandem-ICR study of internal energy effects in the D 3+ + Ar and ArD + + H 2(D 2) reactions

Abstract

The reactions of D 3 + with Ar and ArD +(ArH +) with H 2(D 2) are examined in a Tandem—Ion Cyclotron Resonance mass spectrometer. Product distributions and rate constants are reported as a function of the average number of collisions with D 2(H 2) which the reactant ion undergoes in the source prior to reaction. The D 3 +(Ar, D 2)ArD + reaction is endothermic and the rate constant drops rapidly as the D 3 + ions are collisionally relaxed. The reaction of ArD + with H 2 yields both H 2D + and ArH + products with a rate constant for the first channel of less than a quarter of the collision rate constant. This result is rationalized in terms of a simple polarization-stripping model.