Ion—molecule reactions in mixtures of nitrous oxide with hydrogen and methane

Abstract

Rate constants have been measured by ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry for the reactions producing N 2OH + and NOH + in mixtures of N 2O and H 2 and CH 4. The result for the reaction N 2O + + H 2 → N 2OH + + H compares well with previous work and the rate constants of the reactions of N 2O + and CH 4 + in the N 2O/CH 4 mixture are close to the theoretical (Gioumousis and Stevenson) values. Alternative reactions in N 2O/H 2 of N 2O + and H 2 + ions produced N 2H +. NO + ions appeared to be unreactive in these mixtures. Ion cyclotron double resonance experiments on the N 2O/CH 4 mixture and on an N 2O/C 2H 6 mixture indicated that Δ H f(N 2OH +) lies in the range 1005–1088 kJ (240–260 kcal) mole −1. Double resonance experiments in N 2O alone showed that NO 2 + may be produced by an endothermic reaction of N 2O +.