Chemiluminescent ion-molecule reactions in the system C+ + H2

The optical emission resulting from collisions between C⁺ ions and H₂ gas was measured in the energy range 2 to 20 eV_c.m.. The observed spectrum consists mainly of the CH⁺ A ¹Π → X ¹Σ⁺ band system; CH⁺ (A ^fΠ) is shown to be formed in the chemiluminescent reactio: C⁺(²P⁰) + H₂ → CH⁺(A ¹Π) + H(²S). The energy dependence of the emission cross section was measured. The occurrence of this reaction is discussed in terms of a electronic state correlation diagram for the system.     

Perturbations in the CN(B 2Σ+−X 2Σ+) tail band system. Vibrational assignment of the B 2Σ+ ∼ 4Π perturbation

The quantum numbers of the vibrational levels for the ⁴Π state which perturb the ν_B = 14 and 17 levels of the B ²Σ⁺ state are assigned by an analysis of the vibrational dependence of the B ²Σ⁺ ∼ ⁴Π perturbation constants. The vibrational levels involved in the B ²Σ⁺ ∼ ⁴Π perturbation, (ν_B, ν_Π) = (9, 1), (12, 4), (14, 7), (17, 12), and (18, 14), are consistent with the results of our recent ab initio calculation.     

The energy balance and branching ratios associated with the chemiluminescent reaction Si(3P) + N2O(1Σ) → SiO*(a3Σ+, b3Π, A1Π) + N2(υ″ ⩾ 5) — possible formation of vibrationally excited N2

Silicon atoms react under single collision conditions with N₂O to yield chemiluminescent emission corresponding to the SiO a³Σ⁺?X¹Σ⁺ and b³Π?X¹Σ⁺ intercombination systems and the A¹Π?X¹Σ⁺ band system. A most striking feature of the SiN₂O reaction is the energy balance associated with the formation of SiO product molecules in the A¹Π and b³Π states. A significant energy discrepancy ( = 10000 cm^? = 1.24 eV) is found between the available energy to populate the highest energetically accessible excited-state quantum levels and the highest quantum level from which emission is observed. It is suggested that this discrepancy may result from the formation of vibrationally excited N₂ in a concerted fast SiN₂O reactive encounter. Emission from the SiO a³Σ⁺ (A¹Π) and b³Π(A¹Π, E¹Σ₀⁺) triplet-state manifold results primarily from intensity borrowing involving the indicated singlet states. Perturbation calculations indicate the magnitude of the mixing between the b³Π, A¹Π and E¹Σ₀⁺ states ranges between 0.5 and 2%. On the basis of these calculations, the branching ratio (excited triplet)/(excited singlet) is found to be well in excess of 500. An approximate vibrational population distribution is deduced for those molecules formed in the b³Π state. The present studies are correlated with those of previous workers in order to provide an explanation for diverse relaxation effects as well as observed changes in the ratio of a³Σ⁺ to b³Π emission as a function of pressure and experimental environment. Some of these effects are attributable to a strong coupling between the a³Σ⁺ and b³Π state. Based on the current results, there appears to be little correlation between either (1) the branching ratio for excited state formation or (2) the total absolute cross section for excited-state formation and (3) the measured quantum yield for the SiN₂O reaction. Implications for chemical laser development are considered.     

Cross section for the photochemical formation of the NaZn (22Π) excimer

We studied the conditions for the photochemical formation of the NaZn excimer in the excited 2²Π state using Na₂(2¹Π _u )+Zn→NaZn(2²Π)+Na reaction. The Na-Zn vapor mixture was prepared in the heat-pipe oven with the well defined column density and temperature. The Na and Zn atom densities in the vapor mixture were controlled by the preparation of the alloy with different mole fraction ratios of the relevant components in the solid phase. The Na densities were determined from the total absorption coefficient at Na₂ X-B and X-A bands. The cross section for photochemical formation of the NaZn in the 2²Π state is estimated to be 17·10^?16 cm² for the laser excitation at 308 nm, measured relative to the cross section of 470·10^?16 cm² for collisional energy transfer Na₂(2¹Π _u )+Na→Na₂(2³Π _g )+Na published by Mehdizadeh et al. [2].     

Studies on the reaction N + N3 → N2(B 3Πg) + N2(X 1Σ+g)

Strongly enhanced N₂ first positive emission N₂(B ³Π_g → A ³Σ⁺_u) has been observed on addition of N atoms into a flowing mixture of Cl and HN₃. The dependence of the emission intensity on N atom concentration gave a rate constant for the reaction N + N₃ → N₂(B ³Π_g) + N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) of _i(1.6 ± 1.1) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. That for the reaction Cl + HN₃ → HCl + N₃ is (8.9 ± 1.0) × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 from the decay of the emission. Comparison of the emission intensity in ClHN₃ with that in ClHN₃N gave the rate constant of the reaction N₃ + N₃ → N₂(B ³Π_g) + 2N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) as 1.4 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 on the assumption that N + N₃ yields only N₂(B ³Π_g) + N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g).     

O‐loss photodissociation of the OCS+ ion in the low‐lying electronic states studied using multiconfiguration second‐order perturbation theory

The CASPT2 potential energy curves (PECs) for O‐loss dissociation from the X²Π, A²Π, B²Σ⁺, C²Σ⁺, 1⁴Σ^?, 1²Σ^?, and 1⁴Π states of the OCS⁺ ion were calculated. The PEC calculations indicate that X²Π, 1⁴Σ^?, 1²Σ^?, and 1⁴Π correlate with CS⁺(X²Σ⁺) + O(³P_g); A²Π and B²Σ⁺ correlate with CS⁺(A²Π) + O(³P_g); and C²Σ⁺ probably correlates with CS⁺(X²Σ⁺) + O(¹D_g). The CASSCF minimum energy crossing point (MECP) calculations were performed for the C²Σ⁺/1⁴Σ^?, C²Σ⁺/1⁴Π, A²Π/1⁴Σ^?, A²Π/1²Σ^?, A²Π/1⁴Π, and B²Σ⁺/1²Σ^? state pairs and the spin‐obit couplings were calculated at the located MECPs. A conical intersection point between the B²Σ⁺ and C²Σ⁺ potential energy surfaces was found at the CASSCF level. Based on our calculations, seven O‐loss predissociation processes of the C²Σ⁺ state are suggested and an appearance potential value of 7.13 eV for the CS⁺ + O product group is predicted. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Excited state dynamics of the11BO2 free radical

The excitation spectrum of the double-headed 00°0-00°0 band of BO₂ (A²Π_u-X²Π_g) was recorded by LIF. Special attention was paid to determine the dependence of the radiative lifetime of (00°0) A²Π state with J and the quenching by bath gases N₂, Ar, O₂. The determinations of fluorescence decay were made in real time. The mean radiative lifetime τ_r of the A²Π_3/2(00°0) state of ¹¹ BO₂ was determined to be 91 ± 4 ns (1σ).     

Extensive theoretical study on electronically excited states and predissociation mechanisms of sulfur monoxide including spin-orbit coupling

The potential energy curves of the 69 Ω states generated from the 24 Λ-S states of sulfur monoxide are calculated for the first time using the internally contracted multireference configuration interaction method with the Davidson correction and the entirely uncontracted aug-cc-pV5Z basis set. Spin-orbit coupling is taken into account by the state interaction approach with the full Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian. Very good agreement is achieved between our computed spectroscopic properties and the available experimental data. The transition properties of the B(3)Σ(-) -X(3)Σ(-) and (4)1-X0(+) transitions are predicted, and our computed Franck-Condon factors and radiative lifetimes match the experimental results very well. The predissociation mechanisms are investigated, and various new predissociation channels are located. We present a new interpretation on the breaking-off of the rotational levels of the B(3)Σ(-) lower vibrational states observed in experiment, and propose that the predissociation is induced by the Coriolis coupling between the B(3)Σ(-) rovibrational levels and the A(3)Π state. Our calculations indicate that, at ν' = 9, the B(3)Σ(-) state predissociates via the C(3)Π state; around ν' = 14, three spin-orbit-induced predissociation pathways via (1)(5)Σ(+) , (2)(5)Π, and e(1)Π would be open; around ν' = 17, the pathways via (2)(1)Σ(+) , (2)(3)Σ(+) and (2)(5)Σ(+) would contribute. These satisfactorily explain the experimental results about the diffuseness of the B(3)Σ(-) bands. Furthermore, various predissociation pathways of the C'(3)Π state are predicted, through which the C'(3)Π state could predissociate rapidly.     

Structure and stability of the HFF and FHF radicals

The structure and stability of the HFF and FHF isomers in their two lowest electronic states is studied by means of ab initio SCF and CI calculations employing a double-zeta basis plus various polarization functions. Both complexes can be essentially described by an HF dipole (exhibiting a standard HF bond length) attracting a fluorine atom, with an FF distance of 5.14 bohr calculated for the HF··F ground state and an H··F bond of 4.3 bohr for the most stable FHF species. The HF₂ radical is found to prefer a bent structure in its ²Σ⁺ - ²A' ground state with an extremely flat potential curve, while the first very low-lying excited state of HF₂ as well as both components of the ground (in this case ²Π) state of the FH··F complex are calculated to be linear. The symmetric FHF structure exhibits optimal bond lengths at approximately 2.1 bohr but is considerably less stable than the asymmetrical arrangement of nuclei. With respect to dissociation into HF + F the HF₂ form is found to be stable in both (²Σ⁺ - A') and ²Π states while the conformer FH··F shows a minimum only for the ²Π ground state; the exothermicity of the H + F₂ → HF + F reaction is calculated to be 104.6 kcal mol^?1 in good agreement with the experimental quantity of 102.5 ± 2.8 kcal mol^?1. Comparison with the negative ions HF₂^?and FHF^? is made whenever appropriate.     

Energy transfer processes in reactions of He(23S) with triatomic molecules. II. H2O and H2S

The energy transfer reactions He(2³S) + H₂O and He(2³S) + H₂S were studied spectroscopically in the visible and ultraviolet ranges in a flowing afterglow apparatus. No primary triatomic ion emission was observed in this study. Only dissociative fragments were found to emit. In the He(2³S)/H₂O system intense OH(A²Σ⁺ → X²Π_i) emission bands and hydrogen Balmer series were observed while in the He(2³S)/H₂S system intense HS⁺(A³Π_i → X³ Σ^?), weak hydrogen Balmer series and some atomic sulfur lines were found. It is concluded that dissociative processes are competitive with Penning ionization in these energy transfer reactions with other possible reaction channels playing inferior roles. The post-ionization process of ion—electron recombination in the flowing afterglow dominates the emission results in the He(2³S)/H₂O system.     

The orbital description of the potential energy curves and properties of the lower excited states of the BH molecule

The electronic wavefunctions for the ground (X¹ Σ⁺) and the low-lying excited states (a³Π, A¹Π, ³Σ⁺) of the BH molecule have been calculated as a function of internuclear distance using the ab initio generalized valence bond method (GVB) with optimization of spin coupling (SOGI). The potential curve of the A¹Π state in the zero rotational level is found to have a hump of 0.150 eV at R = 3.8₉a_o (experimentally a hump of unknown size is found at 3.9 ± 0.4 a₀); a smaller hump at larger R (0.02 eV at R = 4.9₂a₀) is also found for the calculated a³Π state. The presence of such humps is found to result from the recoupling of orbitals that must occur as R is decreased from ∞ to R_e and is comparable in origin to the activation barrier in a radical exchange reaction (e.g., H₂ + D ? HD + H). The calculated binding energies of the BH states are 3.272 eV (X¹ Σ⁺), 2.216 eV (a³ Π), and 0.502 eV (A¹ Π). The ³Σ⁺ state is unbound although it does exhibit a small unbound minimum. The dipole moment, quadrupole moment, and electric field gradient are calculated as a funtion of R. The shapes of the potential curves and the properties are interpreted in terms of simple qualitative considerations of the GVB orbitals.     

Fluorescence and recombination-emission spectra from S2 formed by ultraviolet laser photolysis of CS2 in an argon matrix at 15 k

Two series of emission bands were observed for the CS₂/Ar(1 : 100–500) system at 15 K with excitation at 257.3 nm. They are assigned to B³Σ^?_u → χ³Σ^?_g and B″³Π_u → X³Σ^?_g of S₂, which was formed by photodissociation of CS₂, CS₂ + hv → CS + S, followed by recombination of two S atoms. The B″³Π_u state has been found 524 cm^-1 lower in energy than B³Σ^?_u     

Molecular beam study of the chemiluminescent reaction C + SO2 → SO(A 3Π) + CO

The reaction C(³P) + SO₂ → SO(A ³Π) + CO has been identified and studied in a beam-cell configuration. Chemiluminescence (240–360 nm) indicates that the SO(A ³Π) molecules are formed in the lowest vibrational levels (v = 0–6). The predominance of SO(A ³Π) production over SO(B ³Σ^?) formation observed is explained by adiabatic correlation arguments.     

Determination of sulfur in steels by radiochemical neutron activation analysis with liquid scintillation counting

A method has been developed for the determination of low-level sulfur in steels by radiochemical neutron activation analysis. During sample irradiation, ³⁵S is produced by the ³⁴S(n,γ)³⁵S reaction. Irradiated steels are mixed with sulfur carrier and dissolved in HCl/HNO₃. Sulfur is reduced to H₂S by reaction with HI/H₃PO₂/HCl. The evolved H₂S is absorbed in dilute NaOH, which is mixed with scintillation cocktail for the measurement of ³⁵S by liquid scintillation counting. Sulfur carrier yield is determined by iodometric titration. Chlorine is also determined by RNAA in order to correct for ³⁵S produced via the ³⁵Cl(n,p)³⁵S reaction. Sulfur has been determined at mass fractions as low as ≈5 mg/kg in ultra-high-purity iron using this method.     

150−230 nm Chemiluminescence from C,CN and CO and observation of C(3P, 1D) in the N/C2F4 and N/O2/C2F4 reactions

Addition of C₂F₄ to a flowing nitrogen afterglow gives rise to CN(E²ΣA²Π, X²Σ), CN(F² ΔA²Π) and C (156.1, 165.5 and 193.0 nm) chemiluminescence. Transitions have been observed from CN(E²Σ) up to ν′ = 2 from which vibrational constants for this state have been recalculated to be ω_eχ_e = 13.8 cm^?1 and ω_e = 1698.4 cm^?1. Ground state and metasrable C(³P, ¹D) have been detected and studied via resonance fluorescence. Addition of O₂ to the N/C₂F₄ reaction system reduces C and CN emission intensities and [C] while giving rise to CO(a³Π-X¹Σ), CO(A¹ΠX¹Σ) and NO(B²ΠX²Π) emission. Probable excitation mechanisms are discussed.     

Vibrational analysis of N2(B 3Πg and C 3Πu) and CO(X) excited in N2 discharge and post discharge

A spectroscopic characterization of a N₂ radiofrequency discharge and N₂CO post discharge has been performed. The relative vibrational distribution of the excited B ³Π_g and C ³Π_u states of nitrogen and their correlation with the ground state have been analyzed. The analysis confirms the importance of the metastable molecules. N₂(A ³Σ⁺_u), in affecting the vibrational distribution of nitrogen in its ground state in the discharge and post discharge. The vibrational analysis of the CO ground state, excited in the post discharge by vibrationally excited N₂ molecules, confirms the high degree of vibrational non-equilibrium in the ground state of nitrogen, in the presence of a low first-level vibrational temperature.     

Treatment of dimethyl (+)-L-tartrate with sulfur tetrafluoride

Treatment of dimethyl (+)-L-tartrate (I) with sulfur tetrafluoride results in the formation of an intermediate, 2-fluoro-1,2-bis(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl fluorosulfite (II), which under the action of hydrogen fluoride, present in the reaction mixture, is converted into dimethyl (?)(2S:3S)-2-fluoro-3-hydroxysuccinate (III). The reaction of the latter with SF₄ leads to dimethyl meso-2,3-difluorosuccinate (IV). The structure and configurations of the compounds obtained were established by ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR. Treatment of dimethyl (+)-L-tartrate (I) with sulfur tetrafluoride in the presence of excessive hydrogen fluoride gave dimethyl meso-2,3-difluorosuccinate in 96% yield.     

Methyl thiirane: Kinetic gas-phase titration of sulfur atoms in SX OY systems

The reaction SO + SO →l S + SO₂(2) was studied in the gas phase by using methyl thiirane as a titrant for sulfur atoms. By monitoring the C₃H₆ produced in the reaction \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm S} + {\rm CH}_3\hbox{---} \overline {{\rm CH\hbox{---}CH}_2\hbox{---} {\rm S}} \to {\rm S}_2 + {\rm C}_3 {\rm H}_6 (7) $\end{document}, we determined that k₂ ? 3.5 × 10^?15 cm³/s at 298 K.     

Ab initio study of N2O+. Angular dependence of the 14A″(4Π) potential

The 1⁴A″(⁴Π) state of N₂O⁺ is found to be the most stable at bent conformations of the nuclei. Ab initio SCF, MC SCF, and MC SCF CI calculations with a double-zeta basis and typical bond-length values for R_NN and R_NO all yield minimum energy angles near 126°. The energy lowering is such that the total energy of N₂O⁺ (1⁴A″, 126°) is very near that of the lowest O, N₂ asymptote, ⁴S, X ¹Σ_g⁺. These results are shown to imply that the ionospheric reaction O⁺ + N₂ → NO⁺ + N, the rate-determining step in the electron removal reaction network, is adiabatic on the potential surface of the 1⁴A″ state.