The Role of Excess Kinetic Energy in the Reactions of O(1D) Atoms

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The effect of the excess kinetic energy of O(1D) atoms on their reactions with some gaseous compounds was investigated using two different experimental methods. O(1D) atoms with maximum excess kinetic energies of 41 ± 5 and 31 kcal/mol respectively, were produced by flash photolysis of N2O (1800–2300 Å) and by photolysis of N2O at 2139 Å, in the presence and absence of He which is a deactivator of kinetic energy. In the first method the competition between N2O and one of CO2, Xe, CO, and N2 for O(1D) atoms was measured and it was found that the relative rate constants [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are not affected by the excess kinetic energy of the O(1D) atoms.In the second method the competition between neopentane and one of CO2, Xe, CO, and N2 for O(1D) atoms was measured. The results of the second study were not entirely conclusive. However, they also indicate no effect or at best only a very small effect of excess kinetic energy.