The reactions of atomic hydrogen and active nitrogen with hydrogen azide

Detection of atoms by mass spectrometry has been used to study the reactions of hydrogen azide, HN₃, with H atoms and active nitrogen, in a fast flow reactor at pressures of about 1 torr. Stoichiometry and products of the H + HN₃ reaction have been determined and the rate constant of the initial step, assumed to be H + HN₃ → NH₂ + N₂, was found to be 2.54 × 10^?11 exp (?4600/RT) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, in the temperature range of 300–460K. The formation of NH₃ and H₂ products has been discussed from the different secondary steps which may occur in the mechanism. For the reaction of active nitrogen with HN₃, evidence has been found for the participation of excited nitrogen molecules produced by a microwave discharge through molecular nitrogen. The influence of excited nitrogen molecules has been reduced by lowering the gas flow velocity. It was then possible to study the N + HN₃ reaction for which the rate constant of the initial step was found to be 4.9 × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at room temperature. Finally, the occurrence of these elementary reactions has been discussed in the mechanism of the decomposition flame of HN₃.