Additional flowing afterglow measurements of negative ion reactions of D-region interest

Abstract

Some additional negative ion reactions of possible D-region importance have been measured in the ESSA flowing afterglow system at 300°K. It has been found that NO 3 − does not react with atomic oxygen or atomic nitrogen with a rate constant as large as 10 −11 cm 3/sec. The electron affinity of NO 3 is found to be greater than that of NO 2 by more than 0.9 eV. It is pointed out that conversion of O 2 − to O 4 − followed by subsequent reactions of the O 4 − may play an important role in D-region negative ion chemistry. Rate constants for the reaction of O 4 − with NO, CO 2 and O are reported. The reaction of O 4 − with CO 2 produces CO 4 −. Rate constants for the reactions of CO 4 − with NO and O are reported.