Flash spectroscopy with mercury resonance radiation. Part 4.—Measurement of mercury hydride yields with a nitric oxide titration

Abstract

By comparing the yields of HNO in the Hg-flash-photosensitized decomposition of H2+ NO mixtures with those formed in H2+ C2H4+ NO mixtures, k4/(k3+k4) for the reactions, Hg(63P1)+[graphic omitted], was recorded as 0.67(± 0.04). Without added C2H4, both HgH and H are converted to HNO. Added C2H4 scavenges atomic hydrogen and the only HNO forming reaction is HgH + NO → HNO + Hg. In similar experiments with D2 the equivalent k4/(k3+k4) was recorded as 0.76(± 0.05). The HNO and DNO were monitored photoelectrically via their systems in the far ultra-violet. The absolute quantum yield for dissociation of H2 by Hg(63P1) was recorded as 0.93(± 0.10) by comparing the HNO yields in H2+ NO mixtures with those in C3H8+ NO mixtures. Less than 5% of the reaction of C2H5 with NO produces HNO at high pressure, and there is no fast removal of HNO by C2H4. Fragments of several new systems of HgH and HgD were detected in the far ultra-violet.