Isotope fractionation factors of N2O diffusion

Isotopic signatures of N2O are increasingly used to constrain the total global flux and the relative contribution of nitrification and denitrification to N2O emissions. Interpretation of isotopic signatures of soil-emitted N2O can be complicated by the isotopic effects of gas diffusion. The aim of our study was to measure the isotopic fractionation factors of diffusion for the isotopologues of N2O and to estimate the potential effect of diffusive fractionation during N2O fluxes from soils using simple simulations. Diffusion experiments were conducted to monitor isotopic signatures of N2O in reservoirs that lost N2O by defined diffusive fluxes. Two different mathematical approaches were used to derive diffusive isotope fractionation factors for 18O (epsilon18O), average 15N (epsilonbulk) and 15N of the central (alpha(-)) and peripheral (beta(-)) position within the linear N2O molecule (epsilon15Nalpha, epsilon15Nbeta). The measured epsilon18O was -7.79 +/- 0.27 per thousand and thus higher than the theoretical value of -8.7 per thousand. Conversely, the measured epsilonbulk (-5.23 +/- 0.27 per thousand) was lower than the theoretical value (-4.4 per thousand). The measured site-specific 15N fractionation factors were not equal, giving a difference between epsilon15Nalpha and epsilon15Nbeta (epsilonSP) of 1.55 +/- 0.28 per thousand. Diffusive fluxes of the N2O isotopologues from the soil pore space to the atmosphere were simulated, showing that isotopic signatures of N2O source pools and emitted N2O can be substantially different during periods of non-steady state fluxes. Our results show that diffusive isotope fractionation should be taken into account when interpreting natural abundance isotopic signatures of N2O fluxes from soils.     

Fractionation factors for stable isotopes of N and O during N2O reduction in soil depend on reaction rate constant

Nitrous oxide (N(2)O) is a major greenhouse gas that is mainly produced but also reduced by microorganisms in soils. We determined factors for N and O isotope fractionation during the reduction of N(2)O to N(2) in soil in a flow-through incubation experiment. The absolute value of the fractionation factors decreased with increasing reaction rate constant. Reaction rates constants ranged from 1.7 10(-4) s(-1) to 4.5 10(-3) s(-1). The minimum, maximum and median of the observed fractionation factors were for N -36.0 per thousand, -1.0 per thousand and -9.3 per thousand and for O -74.0 per thousand, -6.9 per thousand and -26.3 per thousand, respectively. The ratio of O isotope fractionation to N isotope fractionation was 2.4 +/- 0.3 and it was independent from the reaction rate constants. This leads us to conclude that fractionation factors are variables while their ratio in this particular reaction might be a constant.     

Fully Coriolis-coupled quantum studies of the H + O2 (upsilon i = 0-2, j i = 0,1) --> OH + O reaction on an accurate potential energy surface: integral cross sections and rate constants

We present accurate quantum calculations of the integral cross section and rate constant for the H + O2 --> OH + O combustion reaction on a recently developed ab initio potential energy surface using parallelized time-dependent and Chebyshev wavepacket methods. Partial wave contributions up to J = 70 were computed with full Coriolis coupling, which enabled us to obtain the initial state-specified integral cross sections up to 2.0 eV of the collision energy and thermal rate constants up to 3000 K. The integral cross sections show a large reaction threshold due to the quantum endothermicity of the reaction, and they monotonically increase with the collision energy. As a result, the temperature dependence of the rate constant is of the Arrhenius type. In addition, it was found that reactivity is enhanced by reactant vibrational excitation. The calculated thermal rate constant shows a significant improvement over that obtained on the DMBE IV potential, but it still underestimates the experimental consensus.     

Nitrogen isotopomer site preference of N2O produced by Nitrosomonas europaea and Methylococcus capsulatus Bath

The relative importance of individual microbial pathways in nitrous oxide (N(2)O) production is not well known. The intramolecular distribution of (15)N in N(2)O provides a basis for distinguishing biological pathways. Concentrated cell suspensions of Methylococcus capsulatus Bath and Nitrosomonas europaea were used to investigate the site preference of N(2)O by microbial processes during nitrification. The average site preference of N(2)O formed during hydroxylamine oxidation by M. capsulatus Bath (5.5 +/- 3.5 per thousand) and N. europaea (-2.3 +/- 1.9 per thousand) and nitrite reduction by N. europaea (-8.3 +/- 3.6 per thousand) differed significantly (ANOVA, f((2,35)) = 247.9, p = 0). These results demonstrate that the mechanisms for hydroxylamine oxidation are distinct in M. capsulatus Bath and N. europaea. The average delta(18)O-N(2)O values of N(2)O formed during hydroxylamine oxidation for M. capsulatus Bath (53.1 +/- 2.9 per thousand) and N. europaea (-23.4 +/- 7.2 per thousand) and nitrite reduction by N. europaea (4.6 +/- 1.4 per thousand) were significantly different (ANOVA, f((2,35)) = 279.98, p = 0). Although the nitrogen isotope value of the substrate, hydroxylamine, was similar in both cultures, the observed fractionation (delta(15)N) associated with N(2)O production via hydroxylamine oxidation by M. capsulatus Bath and N. europaea (-2.3 and 26.0 per thousand, respectively) provided evidence that differences in isotopic fractionation were associated with these two organisms. The site preferences in this study are the first measured values for isolated microbial processes. The differences in site preference are significant and indicate that isotopomers provide a basis for apportioning biological processes producing N(2)O.     

Evolution of the delta13C signature related to total carbon contents and carbon decomposition rate constants in a soil profile under grassland

Evolution of the total carbon (C) content and the (13)C enrichment (delta(13)C signature) of soil organic matter (SOM) with increasing depth in a soil profile under permanent grassland (C(3) vegetation) were investigated. The relationship between the total C content and the delta(13)C signature at different depths in the upper 30 cm of the soil profile could be well fitted by the Rayleigh equation (y = -29.8 - 2.3x, R(2) = 0.95, p < 0.001), describing the enrichment in (13)C as resulting from isotopic fractionation associated with C mineralization (isotope enrichment factor epsilon = -2.3 per thousand). Potential C dynamics of SOM in four depth intervals of the profile (0-10, 10-20, 20-30 and 30-40 cm depth) were investigated through an incubation study. The C decomposition rate constants decreased with increasing sampling depth from 0.0479 yr(-1) (0-10 cm sampling depth) to 0.0256 yr(-1) (30-40 cm sampling depth) and were highly correlated (y = 0.02 + 0.13x, R(2) = 0.93, p < 0.05) with the corresponding deltadelta(13)C values (average change of the delta(13)C signature per depth increment). These results suggest that changes of the delta(13)C signature of SOM in undisturbed soil profiles under continuous C(3) vegetation may serve as an indicator of the variation of SOM quality with increasing depth.     

Emergence of charge-transfer-to-solvent band in the absorption spectra of hydrogen halides on ice nanoparticles: spectroscopic evidence for acidic dissociation

Extensive ab initio calculations complemented by a photodissociation experiment at 193 nm elucidate the nature of hydrogen halide molecules bound on free ice nanoparticles. Electronic absorption spectra of small water clusters (up to 5 water molecules) and water clusters doped with hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen bromide were calculated. The spectra were modeled at the time-dependent density functional (TDDFT) level of theory with the BHandHLYP functional using the reflection principle. We observe the emergence of a charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) band in the absorption spectra upon the acidic dissociation of the hydrogen halides. The CTTS band provides a spectroscopically observable feature for the acidic dissociation. The calculated spectra were compared with our new experimental photodissociation data for larger water clusters doped with HCl and HBr. We conclude that HCl and HBr dissociate to a large extent on the surface of ice nanoparticles at temperatures near 120 K and photoactive products are formed. The acidic dissociation of HX leads to an enhancement by about 4 orders of magnitude of the HCl photolysis rate in the 200-300 nm region, which is potentially relevant for the halogen budget in the atmosphere.     

Accurate quantum wave packet calculations for the F + HCl → Cl + HF reaction on the ground 1(2)A' potential energy surface

We present converged exact quantum wave packet calculations of reaction probabilities, integral cross sections, and thermal rate coefficients for the title reaction. Calculations have been carried out on the ground 1(2)A' global adiabatic potential energy surface of Deskevich et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 124, 224303 (2006)]. Converged wave packet reaction probabilities at selected values of the total angular momentum up to a partial wave of J = 140 with the HCl reagent initially selected in the v = 0, j = 0-16 rovibrational states have been obtained for the collision energy range from threshold up to 0.8 eV. The present calculations confirm an important enhancement of reactivity with rotational excitation of the HCl molecule. First, accurate integral cross sections and rate constants have been calculated and compared with the available experimental data.     

Relationship between soil organic C degradability and the evolution of the delta13C signature in profiles under permanent grassland

The main objective of this research was to investigate to what extent the potential C dynamics of soil organic matter (SOM) are related to the degree of 13C enrichment with increasing depth in soil profiles under permanent grassland. The evolution of the C content and the 13C natural abundance (delta13C value) of SOM were investigated in three soil profiles (0-40 cm depth) under permanent grassland of varying texture (a loamy sand, a loam and a clay loam soil). The delta13C value of the SOM showed a gradual increase with increasing depth and decreasing C content in the profiles, ranging from 1.9 per thousand (loamy sand soil), 2.9 per thousand (clay loam soil) and 4 per thousand (loam soil) in relation to the delta13C value of SOM at the surface. The relationship between the 13C enrichment and total organic C content at different depths in the profiles (down to 40 cm depth in the loam and clay loam soil, down to 25 cm depth in the loamy sand soil) could be well described by the Rayleigh equation. The enrichment factors epsilon, associated with the Rayleigh approximation of the data, ranged from -1.57 per thousand (clay loam soil) to -1.64 per thousand (loamy sand soil) and -1.91 per thousand (loam soil). The potential C dynamics in four depth intervals from the profiles (0-10, 10-20, 20-30 and 30-40 cm depth) were determined by means of an incubation experiment. The C decomposition rate constants from the four sampling depths in the profiles showed a significant, positive correlation (y = 0.21x + 0.018, R(2) = 0.66, p < 0.005) with the corresponding Deltadelta13C values (change of the delta13C value per depth increment). A better correlation was obtained when only the data from the upper 20 cm in the profiles (y = 0.21x + 0.019, R(2) = 0.78, p < 0.05) were considered. These results suggest that the Deltadelta13C values in the surface layers of profiles under permanent grassland may serve as an indicator of the potential degradability or the stability of the SOM (in terms of C decomposition rate constants).     

Deuterium/hydrogen ratio analysis of thymol, carvacrol, gamma-terpinene and p-cymene in thyme, savory and oregano essential oils by gas chromatography-pyrolysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Isotope ratio mass spectrometry online coupled with capillary gas chromatography (GC-Py-IRMS) on column INNOWAX is used in the origin specific analysis and the authenticity control of the phenolic essential oils (EOs). Isotopic data delta(2)H(V-SMOW) of thymol and carvacrol in natural essential oils were evidently more depleted than synthetic products (from -49 to 7 per thousand for thymol and -61 per thousand for carvacrol). delta(2)H(V-SMOW) values of p-cymene, gamma-terpinene and thymol in authentic thyme oils (Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.) were found from -300 to -270 per thousand, from -285 to -248 per thousand and from -259 to -234 per thousand, respectively. delta(2)H(V-SMOW) values of carvacrol and p-cymene in authentic oregano oils (Origanum heracleoticum L., Coridothymus capitatus L. and Origanum compactum L.) varied from -223 to -193 per thousand and from -284 to -259 per thousand, respectively. For authentic Satureja montana subsp. montana essential oils, the mean delta(2)H(V-SMOW) value for aromatic compounds were found to be the following: gamma-terpinene -273 per thousand (SD=4.6 per thousand) and p-cymene -283 per thousand (SD=3.0 per thousand), thymol -245 per thousand (SD=1.8 per thousand) and carvacrol -226 per thousand (SD=1.7 per thousand). In addition, p-cymene was previously found as a precursor of the biosynthesis of thymol and carvacrol in thyme oil, thus, we considered p-cymene as an endogenous reference compound (ERC) for D/H ratio analysis. The isotopic fractionation factors alpha(thymol/p-cymene)=1.05 and alpha(carvacrol/p-cymene)=1.08 were obtained and also used to control the authenticity of the phenolic EOs.     

Isotope fractionation of iron(III) in chemical exchange reactions using solvent extraction with crown ether

This work reports on the chemical isotope fractionation of Fe(III) by a solvent extraction method with a crown ether of dicyclohexano-18-crown-6. The (56)Fe/(54)Fe and (57)Fe/(54)Fe ratios were analyzed by multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We determined the dependence of the isotope enrichment factors (epsilon) on the strength of HCl. The relative deviation of the (56)Fe/(54)Fe ratios relative to the unprocessed material (10(4) epsilon(56)) increases from -15.3 to -6.3 with [HCl] increasing from 1.6 to 3.5 mol/L. Likewise, 10(4) epsilon(57) increases from -22.8 to -9.6 under the same conditions. The correlation between epsilon(56) and epsilon(57) is mass dependent within the errors. The observed fractionation was broken down into the effects of competing extraction reactions and of a reaction between Fe(III) species (FeCl(2)(+) and FeCl(3)) in the aqueous phase. We found that the isotope fractionation between the Fe(III) species is mass dependent, which we confirmed by calculating the reduced partition function ratios.     

Nonadiabatic quantum dynamics of C(1D)+H2→CH+H: coupled-channel calculations including Renner-Teller and Coriolis terms

The Renner-Teller (RT) coupled-channel dynamics for the C((1)D)+H(2)(X(1)Σ(g) (+))→CH(X(2)Π)+H((2)S) reaction has been investigated for the first time, considering the first two singlet states ??(1)A' and b(1)A' of CH(2) dissociating into the products and RT couplings, evaluated through the ab initio matrix elements of the electronic angular momentum. We have obtained initial-state-resolved probabilities, cross sections and thermal rate constants via the real wavepacket method for both coupled electronic states. In contrast to the N((2)D)+H(2)(X(1)Σ(g)(+)) system, RT effects tend to reduce probabilities, cross sections, and rate constants in the low energy range compared to Born-Oppenheimer (BO) ones, due to the presence of a repulsive RT barrier in the effective potentials and to long-lived resonances. Furthermore, contrary to BO results, the rate constants have a positive temperature dependence in the 100-400 K range. The two-state RT rate constant at 300 K, lower than the BO one, remains inside the error bars of the experimental value.     

The effect of growth rate on tissue-diet isotopic spacing in rapidly growing animals. An experimental study with Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

The difference in isotopic composition between a consumer's tissues and that of its diet is a critical aspect of the use of stable isotope analyses in ecological and palaeoecological studies. In a controlled feeding experiment with the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, we demonstrate for the first time that the value of tissue-diet isotope spacing in nitrogen in a growing animal is not constant, but varies inversely with growth rate. The value of tissue-diet isotopic spacing in N reflects N use efficiency. Thus, in salmon, growth rate is accompanied by, or requires, increased N use efficiency. The total range in tissue-diet isotopic spacing in N seen in the experimental population of 25 fish was 1 per thousand, approximately 50% of the total trophic shift. Mean equilibrium tissue-diet isotopic spacing (+/-standard deviation) in salmon averaged 2.3 per thousand (+/-0.3 per thousand) and 0.0 per thousand (+/-0.3 per thousand) for N in muscle and liver, respectively, and 2.1 per thousand (+/-0.1 per thousand) and 1.6 per thousand (+/-0.3 per thousand) for C in muscle and liver, respectively. Feeding with a mixed dietary source (wheat and fish-meal origin) resulted in tissue-diet isotopic fractionation in both C and N due to the differential digestibility of food components with distinct isotopic composition. The rate of change in isotopic composition of S. salar tissues was dominated by growth, but the estimated contribution of metabolic turnover to change in tissue N was relatively high for an ectothermic animal at ca. 20-40%. The estimated half-life for metabolic turnover of the tissue N pool was ca. 4 months in both muscle and liver tissue. This is the first study to demonstrate a direct relationship between tissue-diet isotopic spacing in N and growth rate and adds to the growing list of factors known to influence the level of isotopic separation between a consumer's tissue and that of its diet.     

GasBench/isotope ratio mass spectrometry: a carbon isotope approach to detect exogenous CO(2) in sparkling drinks

A new procedure for the determination of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) (13)C/(12)C isotope ratios, using direct injection into a GasBench/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GasBench/IRMS) system, has been developed to improve isotopic methods devoted to the study of the authenticity of sparkling drinks. Thirty-nine commercial sparkling drink samples from various origins were analyzed. Values of delta(13)C(cava) ranged from -20.30 per thousand to -23.63 per thousand, when C3 sugar addition was performed for a second alcoholic fermentation. Values of delta(13)C(water) ranged from -5.59 per thousand to -6.87 per thousand in the case of naturally carbonated water or water fortified with gas from the spring, and delta(13)C(water) ranged from -29.36 per thousand to -42.09 per thousand when industrial CO(2) was added. It has been demonstrated that the addition of C4 sugar to semi-sparkling wine (aguja) and industrial CO(2) addition to sparkling wine (cava) or water can be detected. The new procedure has advantages over existing methods in terms of analysis time and sample treatment. In addition, it is the first isotopic method developed that allows (13)C/(12)C determination directly from a liquid sample without previous CO(2) extraction. No significant isotopic fractionation was observed nor any influence by secondary compounds present in the liquid phase.     

Quantifying nitrate retention processes in a riparian buffer zone using the natural abundance of 15N in NO3-

Quantifying the relative importance of denitrification and plant uptake to groundwater nitrate retention in riparian zones may lead to methods optimising the construction of riparian zones for water pollution control. The natural abundance of 15N in NO3- has been shown to be an interesting tool for providing insights into the NO3- retention processes occurring in riparian zones. In this study, 15N isotope fractionation (variation in delta15N of the residual NO3-) due to denitrification and due to plant uptake was measured in anaerobic soil slurries at different temperatures (5, 10 and 15 degrees C) and in hydroponic systems with different plant species (Lolium perenne L., Urtica dioica L. and Epilobium hirsutum L.). It was found that temperature had no significant effect on isotope fractionation during denitrification, which resulted in a 15N enrichment factor epsilonD of -22.5 +/- 0.6 per thousand. On the other hand, nitrate uptake by plants resulted in 15N isotope fractionation, but was independent of plant species, leading to a 15N enrichment factor epsilonP of -4.4 +/- 0.3 per thousand. By relating these two laboratory-defined enrichment factors to a field enrichment factor for groundwater nitrate retention during the growing season (epsilonR = -15.5 +/- 1.0 per thousand ), the contribution of denitrification and plant uptake to groundwater nitrate retention could be calculated. The relative importance of denitrification and plant uptake to groundwater nitrate retention in the riparian buffer zone was 49 and 51% during spring, 53 and 47% during summer, and 75 and 25% during autumn. During wintertime, high micropore dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and low redox potentials due to decomposition of the highly productive riparian vegetation probably resulted in a higher denitrification rate and favoured other nitrate retention processes such as nitrate immobilisation or dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). This could have biased the 15N isotope fractionation and led to a low 15N enrichment factor for groundwater nitrate retention during wintertime (-6.2 +/- 0.9 per thousand ). In contradiction to what many other studies suggest, it is possible that due to plant decomposition during the winter period other nitrate transformation processes compete with denitrification.     

Ultraviolet photochemistry of trichlorovinylsilane and allyltrichlorosilane: vinyl radical (HCCH2) and allyl radical (H2CCHCH2) production in 193 nm photolysis

The absolute gas phase ultraviolet absorption spectra of trichlorovinylsilane and allyltrichlorosilane have been measured from 191 to 220 nm. Over this region the absorption spectra of both species are broad and relatively featureless, and their cross sections increase with decreasing wavelength. The electronic transitions of trichlorovinylsilane were calculated by ab initio quantum chemical methods and the observed absorption bands assigned to the A(1)A'<-- X[combining tilde](1)A' transition. The maximum absorption cross section in the region, at 191 nm, is sigma = (8.50 +/- 0.06) x 10(-18) cm(2) for trichlorovinylsilane and sigma = (2.10 +/- 0.02) x 10(-17) cm(2) for allyltrichlorosilane. The vinyl radical and the allyl radical are formed promptly from the 193 nm photolysis of their respective trichlorosilane precursors. By comparison of the transient visible absorption and the 1315 nm I atom absorption from 266 nm photolysis of vinyl iodide and allyl iodide, the absorption cross sections at 404 nm of vinyl radical ((2.9 +/- 0.4) x 10(-19) cm(2)) and allyl radical ((3.6 +/- 0.8) x 10(-19) cm(2)) were derived. These cross sections are in significant disagreement with literature values derived from kinetic modeling of allyl or vinyl radical self-reactions. Using these cross sections, the vinyl radical yield from trichlorovinylsilane was determined to be phi = (0.9 +/- 0.2) per 193 nm photon absorbed, and the allyl radical yield from allyltrichlorosilane phi = (0.7 +/- 0.2) per 193 nm photon absorbed.     

2H/H] Isotope ratio analyses of [2H5]cholesterol using high-temperature conversion elemental analyser isotope-ratio mass spectrometry: determination of cholesterol absorption in normocholesterolemic volunteers

This paper validates the use of high-temperature conversion elemental analyser isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (TC-EA/IRMS) for measuring the [(2)H/H] enrichment of plasma [(2)H(5)]cholesterol. From a molecular point of view, the free cholesterol is initially separated from plasma by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and then injected onto the TC-EA reactor which converts cholesterol molecules into CO and H(2) gases. The slope of the curve of the experimental mole percent excess (MPE((exp.))) versus MPE((theor.)) was very close to 1, demonstrating that no significant isotopic fractionation was observed during all processing of the samples (i.e., isolation of plasma free cholesterol by TLC and pyrolysis in the TC-EA reactor). Excellent linearity (r(2) = 0.9994, n = 4) of delta ( per thousand ) of [(2)H/H] isotopic measurements versus mole percent (MP) was assessed over the range 0 to 0.1 MP. The precision of the [(2)H/H] measurement, evaluated with two calibration points processed with TLC, was delta(2)H(V-SMOW) = -192.5 +/- 3.4 per thousand and delta(2)H(V-SMOW) = -136.9 +/- 2.9 per thousand. The standard deviations of the within-assay and between-assay repeatabilities of the analytical process, evaluated using the quality control (QC) of plasma samples, were 4.6 and 6.1 per thousand, respectively. Plant sterols are known to reduce cholesterol absorption and therefore were used as a positive control in a clinical study performed with normocholesterolemic volunteers. This present method produces biological results consistent with those already reported in the literature.     

Reaction of chlorine atom with trichlorosilane from 296 to 473 K

The reaction of trichlorosilane (HSiCl(3)) with atomic chlorine (Cl) has been investigated by using infrared kinetic spectroscopy of the HCl product. The overall second order rate constant for the reaction has been determined as a function of temperature by using pseudo-first-order kinetic methods. Formation of HCl (nu=0) was monitored on the (nu=1<--0) R(2) line at 2944.914 cm(-1) and that of HCl (nu=1) on the (nu=2<--1) R(2) line at 2839.148 cm(-1). The overall second order rate constant was determined to be (2.8+/-0.1)x10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) at 296 K. The rate constant shows no pressure dependence and decreases slightly with increased temperature [k=(2.3+/-0.2)x10(-11)e((66+/-3)/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)]. Substantial vibrational excitation is measured in the HCl product, with the fraction of HCl (nu=1)/HCl (total)=0.41+/-0.08. These observations are consistent with the reaction being a barrierless hydrogen abstraction reaction. The experimental results are supported by ab initio quantum chemical calculations that show the transition state for abstraction to lie below the energy of the reactants, in disagreement with previously published calculations.     

Density functional theory analysis of molybdenum isotope fractionation

Analytical studies have found an enrichment of the lighter Mo isotopes in oxic marine sediments compared to seawater, with isotope fractionation factors of -1.7 to -2.0 per thousand for Delta97/95Mosediment-seawater. These data place constraints on the possible identities of dissolved and adsorbed species because the equilibrium isotope fractionation depends on the energy differences between the isotopomers of the adsorbed species, minor dissolved species, and the dominant solution species, MoO42-. Adsorption likely involves molybdic acid, whose structure is indicated by previous studies to be MoO3(H2O)3. Here we used DFT calculations of vibrational frequencies to determine the isotope fractionation factors versus MoO42-. The results indicate that isotope equilibration of MoO42- with MoO3(H2O)3, yielding Delta97/95Momolybdic acid-molybdate=-1.33 per thousand, is most likely responsible for the isotope fractionation of Mo between oxic sediments and seawater. The difference between the calculated value of Delta97/95Momolybdic acid-molybdate for MoO3(H2O)3 and the value observed in natural sediments and experiments is probably due to effects of solvation and adsorption onto the manganese oxyhydroxide surface.     

R-matrix theory of inelastic processes in low-energy electron collisions with HCl molecule

The processes of vibrational excitation and dissociative attachment in low-energy electron collisions with HCl molecule are considered. TheR matrix theory of these processes incorporating nuclear dynamics is developed. The input data of the theory are characteristics of the systeme-HCl calculated in the fixed-nuclei approximation. The comparison with experimental data and other theories is given. It is shown that the account of the nuclear motion leads to the significant increase of the vibrational excitation cross sections near threshold. However, in the present variant of the theory, the cross sections for the excitation of the first level are essentially lower than the experimental ones. The dissociative attachment cross sections are in good agreement with the experiment.     

Parity-dependent rotational rainbows in D2-NO and He-NO differential collision cross sections

The (j', Omega', epsilon') dependent differential collision cross sections of D2 with fully state selected (j = 12, Omega = 12, epsilon = -1) NO have been determined at a collision energy of about 550 cm(-1). The collisionally excited NO molecules are detected by (1+1') resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization combined using velocity-mapped ion-imaging. The results are compared to He-NO scattering results and tend to be more forward scattered for the same final rotational state. Both for collisions of the atomic He and the molecular D2 with NO, scattering into pairs of rotational states with the same value of n = j' - epsilon epsilon'2 yields the same angular dependence of the cross section. This "parity propensity rule" remains present both for spin-orbit conserving and spin-orbit changing transitions. The maxima in the differential cross sections-that reflect rotational rainbows-have been extracted from the D2-NO and the He-NO differential cross sections. These maxima are found to be distinct for odd and even parity pair number n. Rainbow positions of parity changing transitions (n is odd) occur at larger scattering angles than those of parity conserving transitions (n is even). Parity conserving transitions exhibit-from a classical point of view-a larger effective eccentricity of the shell. No rainbow doubling due to collisions onto either the N-end or the O-end was observed. From a classical point of view the presence of a double rainbow is expected. Rotational excitation of the D2 molecules has not been observed.