Temperature, kinetic energy, and rotational temperature dependences for the reactions of Ar + ( 2P [formula omitted] with O 2 and CO

Abstract

Rate constants for the charge transfer reactions of Ar + ( 2P 3 2 ) with O 2 and CO have been measured as a function of average center-of-mass kinetic energy 〈KE cm〉 at three temperatures: 93, 300 and 543 K. The rate constants for both reactions were found to be slow at room temperature and to decrease with increasing kinetic energy or temperature in good agreement with previous data. No temperature dependence of the rate constants was found at any given 〈KE cm for both reactions, indicating that neither O 2 nor CO rotational excitation has much effect on the overall reactivity. The data also indicate that O 2 vibrational excitation does not increase the rate constant to the collisional value.