Observation of atomic iodine formed during the room-temperature reaction between F 2 and I 2

Abstract

Atomic iodine was detected in a gas-phase flow reactor containing F 2 and I 2 at room temperature. This novel result (the formation of a radical species by reaction of two closed-shell diatomic molecules) is explained by the reaction, F 3 + I 2 → I 2F + F and the fast subsequent reaction F + I 2 → IF + I. This result strengthens the hypothesis that the former reaction followed by I 2F + F → IF ∗ + IF are responsible for the IF chemiluminescence observed when F 2 and I 2 are mixed in a flowing system.