The 7500 to 4500 Å absorption system of the free HCO radical

Abstract

A fairly extensive absorption spectrum o f the free HCO radical produced by flash photolysis of acetaldehyde and other substances has been investigated with long absorbing paths and under high resolution. The corresponding DCO spectrum has also been studied. The absorption spectrum consists of simple bands with P, Q and R branches. It is shown that the molecule is linear in the upper state, but bent in the lower state with an angle of about 120° and a CO bond length of approximately 1.20 Å. Rotational constants of HCO and DCO in both upper and lower states have been derived. Various arguments based on the high-resolution measurements lead to the conclusion that the main progression of bands corresponds to transitions to the vibrational levels of the upper state with even v' 2 (the vibrational quantum number of the bending mode). This conclusion is confirmed by the observation under low dispersion of some of the intermediate bands with odd v’ 2 which are diffuse and therefore not easily recognizable under high resolution. Apparently all levels of the upper state with l≠0 are predissociated. The type of the electronic transition is shown to be 2 Σ+ ← 2 A”, that is, the transition moment is perpendicular to the molecular plane. The lower state cannot arise from normal CO and H.