The reactions of nitrogen atoms. Paper 1. Some properties of nitrogen atoms and the rate constants for the recombination of the atoms in the bulk and on different surfaces

Abstract

1. The bulk rate constant for the recombination of nitrogen atoms on ternary collision has been measured. 2. It has been shown that the nature of the third particle (impurities in molecular nitrogen) influences the value of the constant for ternary collisions. 3. The bulk rate of recombination of nitrogen atoms, according to the ternary collision law, is much greater than the rate of recombination taking place on clean glass walls of the vessel at pressures from 1 mm and above. 4. It has been found that TiO2 is an effective catalyst on which the recombination of nitrogen atoms takes place readily at a velocity proportional to the square of the concentration of atoms. 5. The coefficients of adhesion and the rate constants for the recombination of nitrogen atoms on a clean glass wall and on pure TiO2 catalyst have been measured.