The structure of the H3O+ (hydronium) ion

Near Hartree-Fock level ab initio molecular orbital calculations on H₃O⁺ and a minimum energy structure with θ(HOH) = 112.5° and r(OH) = 0.963 Å and an inversion barrier of 1.9 kcal/mole. By comparing these results to calculations on NH₃ and H₂O, where precise experimental geometries are known, we estimate the “true” geometry of isolated H₃O⁺ to have a structure with θ(HOH) = 110-112°, r(OH) = 0.97–0.98 Å and an inversion barrier of 2–3 kcal/mole. Our prediction for the proton affinity of water is ≈ 170 kcal/mole, which is somewhat smaller than the currently accepted value.     

Relaxation in torsional motion of triplet oxirane

The rotational barrier height E_rot in the lowest triplet state oxirane molecule was calculated to be 26.3 kcal/mole using a double zeta basis set with partial geometry optimization. This suggest ldrelaxedrd rotation and the computed e(T₁- E(S_o) + E_rot value is commensurate with the enthalpy change for the oxirane-forming O(³P) + C₂H₄ reaction, thus providing a rationale for the stereochemical features of the reaction.     

Beam-gas chemiluminescent reactions of Eu and Sm with O3, N2O,NO2 and F2

Studies are made of the visible chemiluminescence resulting from the reaction of an atomic beam of samarium or europium with O₃, N₂O, NO₂ and F₂ under single-collision conditions (～10^?4 torr). The spectra obtained for SmO, EuO, SmF, and EuF are considerably more extensive than previously observed. The variation of the chemiluminescent intensity with metal flux and with oxidant flux is investigated, and it's concluded that the reactions are bimolecular. From the short wavelength curoff of the chemiluminescent spectra, the following lower bounds to the ground state dissociation energies are obtained: D⁰₀(SmO) > 135.5 +- 0.7 kcal/mole, D⁰₀(EuO) > 131.4 ± 0.7 kcal/mole, D⁰₀(SmF) > 123.6 ± 2.1 kcal/mole, and D⁰₀(EuF) > 129.6 ± 2.1 kcal/mole. Using the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, the latent heats of sublimation are found to be ΔH₁₀₅₂ (Eu) = 42.3 ± 0.7 kcal/mole for europium and ΔH₁₀₈₄(Sm) = 47.9 ± 0.7 kcal/mole for samarium. Total phenomena- logical cross sections are determined for metal atom removal. Relative photon yields per product molecule are calculated from the integrated chemiluminescent spectra and it is found that Sm + F₂ → SmF^* + F is the brightest reaction. The comparison of the photon yields under single-collision conditions with those at several torr shows that energy transfer collisons play an important role in the mechanism for chemiluminescence at the higher pressures. A simple model is presented which explains the larger photon yields of the Sm reactions compared to the Eu reactions in terms of the greater number of electronic states correlating with the reactants in the case of samarium.     

Isotopic effect in the radiolysis of water. Diffusion-kinetic modelling up to 300°C

Diffusion-kinetic calculations [1-3] have been analysed to determine the isotopic effect in the radiolysis of water with ionising radiation of linear energy transfer characteristics (LET) from 0.2 to 60 eV/nm and at temperatures up to 300°C. This analysis shows that, for low LET radiation, the spur decay of e^- _aq is slower in D₂O and results in a higher yield of e^- _aq, g(e^- _aq), at 10^-7 -10^-6s after the ionisation event. In low LET radiolysis, g(OD) ≈ g(OH) over the whole range of temperature but in high LET radiolysis g(OD) is clearly lower than g(OH). The isotopic effect on the yields of the radical products is enhanced by increasing LET but diminished by increasing temperature. The yields of the molecular products show the opposite isotopic effect to their radical precursors, namely g(D₂) is 10-20% lower than g(H₂) and g(D₂O₂) > g(H₂O₂). A particularly significant difference between g(D₂O₂) and g(H₂O₂) has been found at LET = 20 eV/nm. The isotopic dependence of the g-values estimated for fast neutron radiolysis is also presented.     

Molecular beam chemiluminescence. VIII: Pressure dependence and kinetics of Sm + (N2O,O3, F2, Cl2) and Yb + (O3, F2, Cl2) reaction. Dissociation energies of the diatomic reaction products

The CL spectra of the title reactions and their pressure dependences have been studied over the 5 × 10^?6 ? 5 × 10^?3 torr range in a beam-gas experiment. In the Sm + N₂O, O₃ and Yb + O₃ reactions simple bimolecular formation of the short lived (radiative lifetime τ_R < 3 × 10^?6 s) MO* emitters dominates the entire pressure range. In the other systems Sm + (F₂, Cl₂), Yb + (F₂, Cl₂) the CL spectra are strongly pressure dependent, indicating extensive energy transfer from long-lived intermediates. Reaction mechanisms are suggested. The quantum yields Φ, obtained by calibrating relative quantum yields with Dickson and Zare's absolute value for Sm + N₂O [Chem. Phys. 7 (1975) 367], range from Φ = 2.3% (for Sm + F₂, the most efficient reaction) down to Φ = 0.005% for Yb + Cl₂. The following lower limit estimates were obtained for the product dissociation energies from the short wavelength CL cutoffs: D⁰₀(SmF) ? 121.3 ± 2.4 kcal/mole, D⁰₀(SmCl) ? ? 100 ± 3 kcal/mole, D⁰₀(YbO) ? 94.2 ± 1.5 kcal/moie, D⁰₀(YbF) ? 123.7 ± 2.3 kcal/mole.     

Gaseous phosphorus compounds : Part V. The dissociation energy and heat of formation of carbon monophosphide

The chemical equilibrium CP(g) + P(g) ? P₂(g) + C(g) has been studied by means of the Knudsen effusion technique combined with mass spectrometric analysis of the vapor. The enthalpy of reaction, ΔH^O₂₉₈₋ was determined as 6.3 ± 4.0 kcal/mole. Combined with the literature value for the dissociation energy of P₂, the dissociation energy of gaseous carbon monophosphide was calculated as D^O₂₉₈ = 123.2 ± 4.0 kcal/mole or D^O_O = 122.1 ± 4.0 kcal/mole. The corresponding value for the standard heat of formation is ΔH^O_f.298 = 127.5±4.5 kcal/mole. This compares with the selected JANAF value of 111.7 ± 23.1 kcal/mole.     

Reactions of O2(Δg) with ozone

The rate of the reaction O₂(¹Δ_g + O₃ → 2O₂(³Σ ⁻_g) + O(³P) was measured in a static reactor between 296 and 360°K. The decay of O₂(¹Δ_g) was determined from the emission of O₂(¹Σ⁺_g) at 7620 Å. The rate constant is 6.0 × 10⁻¹¹ exp (−5670/RT) cm³ molecule⁻¹ sec⁻¹. The reaction of O(³P) with ozone is found to produce O₂(¹Σ⁺_g) with approximately 0.01% efficiency.     

The Role of Singlet and Triplet Dioxygen Molecules in the EPR and 1H NMR Spectrum Line Broadening

In the Mo^(VI)/H₂O₂/H₂O system, the relaxation time (T ₁) of protons in a water molecule and in a CH₃ group decreases 10 to 30 times under conditions of dismutation of H₂O₂ with the formation of ¹O₂(¹_g). It is experimentally found that the overequilibrium concentration of triplet dioxygen cannot be the reason behind a decrease in T ₁ in the ¹H NMR spectra. Neither can it explain the anomalous line broadening in ESR spectra under conditions of ¹O₂(¹_g) formation in the systems V^(V)/H₂O₂/AcOH and Mo^(VI)/H₂O₂/H₂O. Ab initio calculations showed that it is principle possible that the ³O₄(³·^- _g-¹_g) molecule exists in a snake-like form and is formed by the reaction between ³O₂(³·^- _g) and ¹O₂(¹_g), which is the product of H₂O₂ decomposition in the systems V^(V)/H₂O₂/AcOH and Mo^(IV)/H₂O₂/H₂O. The interaction of ¹O₂ with the ·OOH radical is exothermic (Q = 2.30 kcal/mol) and leads to the formation of ·OOOOH. It is assumed that the paramagnetic species of type ·OOOOH or ³O₄(³ A ₁) that is formed in the reaction might be responsible for the spectral effects observed.     

Dynamics of reactions of O(3P) atoms with CS,CS2 and OCS

The reactions of CS(X ¹Σ⁺), CS₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) and OCS(X ¹Σ⁺) with O(³P) were studied at 298 K by means of a CO laser resonance absorption technique. The CO(ν) population distribution produced from the reaction O(³P) + CS(X ¹Σ⁺) studied in a quartz flash photolysis tube (λ>/ 200 nm) is similar to distributions observed previously for ν> 7. For ν < 7 an energetically colder vibrational population was observed which is attributed to the reaction of O(³P) atoms with undissociated CS₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g). Subsequent experiments carried out in a Pyrex flash photolysis tube (λ>/ 300 nm) in which the O(³P) + CS₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) reaction is the only one which can occur confirmed that the colder population observed is attributable to this process. The branching ratio for the reaction channel O(³P) + CS₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) → CO(X ¹Σ⁺) + S₂(³Σ^?_g) has been measured. We find that 1.4 ± 0.2% of the O + CS₂ reaction proceeds through this channel, and that the rate constant for this reaction channel is, k = 3.5 (±0.5) × 10¹⁰ cm³/mole s. Isotope labeled experiments using ¹⁸O atoms show that the O(³P) + OCS(X ¹Σ⁺) reaction takes place by a direct stripping mechanism, wherein CO(ν) is produced exclusively from the parent OCS molecule. The CO(ν) formed in this reaction carries about 9% of the total available energy.     

The role of the heteroatom (X?=?SiIV, PV, and SVI) on the reactivity of {��-[(H2O)RuIII(��-OH)2RuIII(H2O)][X n+W10O36]}(8?n)? with the O2 molecule

The mechanism of reaction of the di-Ru-substituted polyoxometalate, {??-[(H₂O)Ru^III(??-OH)₂Ru^III(H₂O)][X ⁿ⁺W₁₀O₃₆]}^(8?n)?, I_X, with O₂, i.e. I_X?+?O₂????{??-[(^·O)Ru^IV(??-OH)₂Ru^IV(O^·)][X ⁿ⁺W₁₀O₃₆]}^(8?n)??+?2H₂O, (1), was studied at the B3LYP density functional and self-consistent reaction field IEF-PCM (in aqueous solution) levels of theory. The effect of the nature of heteroatom X (where X?=?Si, P and, S) on the calculated energies and mechanism of the reaction (1) was elucidated. It was shown that the nature of X only slightly affects the reactivity of I_X with O₂, which is a 4-electron oxidation process. The overall reaction (1): (a) proceeds with moderate energy barriers for all studied X??s [the calculated rate-determining barriers are X?=?Si (18.7?kcal/mol)?<?S (20.6?kcal/mol)?<?P (27.2?kcal/mol) in water, and X?=?S (18.7?kcal/mol)?<?P (21.4?kcal/mol)?<?Si (23.1?kcal/mol) in the gas phase] and (b) is exothermic [by X?=?Si [28.7 (22.1) kcal/mol]?>?P [21.4 (9.8) kcal/mol]?>?S [12.3 (5.0) kcal/mol]. The resulting $ \left\{ {\gamma - \left[ {\left( {^{ \cdot } {\text{O}}} \right) {\text{Ru}}^{\text{IV}} \left( {\mu - {\text{OH}}} \right)_{2} {\text{Ru}}^{\text{IV}} \left( {{\text{O}}^{ \cdot } } \right)} \right]\left[ {{\text{X}}^{{{\text{n}} + }} {\text{W}}_{10} {\text{O}}_{36} } \right]} \right\}^{{\left( {8 - {\text{n}}} \right) - }} $ , VI_X, complex was found to have two Ru^IV?=?O^· units, rather than Ru^V?=?O units. The ??reverse?? reaction, i.e., water oxidation by VI_X is an endothermic process and unlikely to occur for X?=?Si and P, while it could occur for X?=?S under specific conditions. The lack of reactivity of VI_X biradical toward the water molecule leads to the formation of the stable [{Ru ₄ ^IV O₄(OH)₂(H₂O)₄}[(??-XW₁₀O₃₆]₂}^m? dimer. This conclusion is consistent with our experimental findings; previously we prepared the $ \left[ {\left\{ {{\text{Ru}}_{4}^{\text{IV}} {\text{O}}_{4} ({\text{OH}})_{2} \left( {{\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}} \right)_{4} } \right\}} \right[\left( {\gamma - {\text{XW}}_{10} {\text{O}}_{36} } \right]_{2} \}^{{{\text{m}} - }} $ dimers for X?=?Si (m?=?10) [Geletii et al. in Angew Chem Int Ed 47:3896?C3899, 2008 and J Am Chem Soc 131:17360?C17370, 2009] and P (m?=?8) [Besson et al. in Chem Comm 46:2784?C2786, 2010] and showed them to be very stable and efficient catalysts for the oxidation of water to O₂.     

Transition-metal mediated heteroatom removal by reactions of FeL+ [L=O,C4H6, c-C5H6, c-C5H5, C6H6, C5H4(=CH2)] with furan,thiophene, and pyrrole in the gas phase

Reactions of Fe⁺ and FeL⁺ [L=O, C₄H₆, c-C₅H₆, C₅H₅, C₆H₆, C₅H₄(=CH₂)] with thiophene, furan, and pyrrole in the gas phase by using Fourier transform mass spectrometry are described. Fe⁺, Fe(C₅H₅)⁺, and FeC₆H ₆ ⁺ yield exclusive rapid adduct formation with thiophene, furan, and pyrrole. In addition, the iron-diene complexes [FeC₄H ₆ ⁺ and Fe(c-C₅H₆)⁺], as well as FeC₅H₄(=CH₂)⁺ and FeO⁺, are quite reactive. The most intriguing reaction is the predominant direct extrusion of CO from furan by FeC₄H₆ ⁺, Fe(c-C₅H₆)⁺, and FeC₅H₄(=CH₂)⁺. In addition, FeC₄H ₆ ⁺ and Fe(c-C₅H₆)⁺ cause minor amounts of HCN extrusion from pyrrole. Mechanisms are presented for these CO and HCN extrusion reactions. The absence of CS elimination from thiophene may be due to the higher energy requirements than those for CO extrusion from furan or HCN extrusion from pyrrole. The dominant reaction channel for reaction of Fe(c-C₅H₆)⁺ with pyrrole and thiophene is hydrogen-atom displacement, which implies D^O(Fa(N₅H₅)⁺-C₄H₄X)>D^O(Fe(C₅H₅)⁺-H)=46±5 kcal mol^?1. D^O(Fe⁺-C₄H₄S) and D^O(Fe⁺-C₄H₅N)=D^O(Fe⁺-C₄H₆)=48±5 kcal mol^?1. Finally, 55±5 kcal mol^?1=D^O(Fe⁺-C₆H₆)>D^O(Fe⁺-C₄H₄O)>D^O(Fe⁺-C₂H₄)=39.9±1.4 kcal mol^?1. FeO⁺ reacts rapidly with thiophene, furan, and pyrrole to yield initial loss of CO followed by additional neutral losses. D^O(Fe⁺-CS)>D^O(Fe⁺-C₄H₄S)≈48±5 kcal mol^?1 and D^O(Fe⁺-C₄H₅N)≈48±5 kcal mol^?1>D^O(Fe⁺-HCN)>D^O(Fe⁺-C₂H₄)=39.9±1.4 kcal mil^?1.     

A Highly Oxidizing and Isolable Oxoruthenium(V) Complex [RuV(N4O)(O)]2+: Electronic Structure,Redox Properties,and Oxidation Reactions Investigated by DFT Calculations

The electronic structure and redox properties of the highly oxidizing, isolable Ru^V?O complex [Ru^V(N₄O)(O)]²⁺, its oxidation reactions with saturated alkanes (cyclohexane and methane) and inorganic substrates (hydrochloric acid and water), and its intermolecular coupling reaction have been examined by DFT calculations. The oxidation reactions with cyclohexane and methane proceed through hydrogen atom transfer in a transition state with a calculated free energy barrier of 10.8 and 23.8 kcal mol^?1, respectively. The overall free energy activation barrier (ΔG^≠=25.5 kcal mol^?1) of oxidation of hydrochloric acid can be decomposed into two parts: the formation of [Ru^III(N₄O)(HOCl)]²⁺ (ΔG=15.0 kcal mol^?1) and the substitution of HOCl by a water molecule (ΔG^≠=10.5 kcal mol^?1). For water oxidation, nucleophilic attack on Ru^V?O by water, leading to O? O bond formation, has a free energy barrier of 24.0 kcal mol^?1, the major component of which comes from the cleavage of the H? OH bond of water. Intermolecular self‐coupling of two molecules of [Ru^V(N₄O)(O)]²⁺ leads to the [(N₄O)Ru^IV? O₂? Ru^III(N₄O)]⁴⁺ complex with a calculated free energy barrier of 12.0 kcal mol^?1.     

End-on versus side-on coordination of dioxygen model ab initio calculations for the adducts of Co(acacen)

From ab initio calculations, the ground state electronic configuration is found for the three possible structures (linear, bent or perpendicular) of the cobalt-dioxygen unit in the adducts Co(acacen) LO₂(L=none, H₂O, CN^?, CO). The bent structure is energetically the most favourable, being slightly more stable than the linear one (by 4–26 kcal/mole depending on the fifth ligand L) but much more stable than the perpendicular one (by 46–82 kcal/mole). These results are rationalized in terms of the main metal-ligand interactions, with the bent structure stabilized by a 3d _z ²-1π _g ^/a interaction and the perpendicular structure destabilized by a four-electron destabilizing interaction 3d _xz -1π _g ^/a .     

Threshold energies for production of CH2(3B1) and CH2(1A1) from ketene photolysis. The CH2(3B1) ↔ CH2(1A1) energy splitting

By measuring the relative CO quantum yields from ketene photolysis as a function of photolysis wavelength we have determined the threshold energy at 25° for CH₂CO(¹A₁) → CH₂(³B₁) + CO(¹Σ⁺) to be 75.7 ± 1.0 kcal/mole. This corresponds to a value of 90.7 ± 1.0 kcal/mole for ΔH_f298⁰[CH₂(³B₁)]. By measuring the relative ratio of CH₂(¹A₁)/CH₂(³B₁) from ketene photolysis as a function of photolysis wavelength we have determined the threshold energy at 25°C for CH₂CO(¹A₁) → CH₂(¹A₁) + CO(¹Σ⁺) to be 84.0 ± 0.6 kcal/mole. This corresponds to a value of 99.0 ± 0.6 kcal/mole for ΔH_f298⁰[CH₂(¹A₁)]. Thus a value for the CH₂(³B₁) ? CH₂(¹A₁) energy splitting of 8.3 ± 1 kcal/mole is determined, which agrees with three other recent independent experimental estimates and the most recent quantum theoretical calculations.     

Reaction of hydrogen atoms and O2(1Δg)

The reaction of atomic hydrogen with O₂(¹Δ_g) has been investigated as a function of temperature, using a fast discharge-flow apparatus equipped for EPR detection of free radical species. The rate constant for the overall reaction was measured as (1.46 ± 0.49) × 10^?11 exp(-4000 ± 200 cal/mol/RT) cm³/s. Evidence is presented which suggests that the reaction occurs principally via abstraction, H + O₂(¹Δ_g) → OH + O, rather than via physical quenching, H + O₂(¹Δ_g) → H + O₂(X³Σ_g^?).     

Formation of oxygen atoms in the reaction of chlorine atoms with ozone

Oxygen atoms are detected by NO + O + M chemiluminescence as a secondary product of the reaction between Cl and O₃. The mechanism Cl + O₃ → ClO + O₂(¹Σ⁺_g), O₂(¹Σ⁺_g) + O₃ → O₂ + O₂ + O is proposed to account for the oxygen atom formation. The branching ratio to the O₂(¹Σ⁺_g) product in the reaction of Cl with O₃ is estimated to be in the range (0.1–0.5) x 10^?2.     

Kinetics of HD exchange in the reaction of HBF2 with D2

The rate constant for the unusually rapid HD exchange reaction of D₂ with HBF₂ : D₂(g) + HBF₂(g) → DBF₂(g) + HD(g) has been measured (k₂(298K) = (7.42 ± 2.0) × 10^?23 cm³/molecule s). The activation energy for this reaction has been estimated to be 17.8 ± 1.2 kcal/mole. The mechanism probably involves a multicenter orbital interaction between D₂ and HBF₂.     

Preparation and Crystal Structure Analyses of Compounds in the Systems HgO/MXO4/H2O (M = Co,Zn, Cd; X = S,Se)

During phase formation experiments under hydrothermal conditions (250 °C, 5d) in the systems HgO/MXO₄/H₂O (M = Co, Zn, Cd; X = S, Se), single crystals of the mercuric compounds (CdSO₄)₂(HgO)₂H₂O (I), (CdSeO₄)₂(HgO)₂H₂O (II), (CdSeO₄)Hg(OH)₂ (III), (CoSO₄)₂(HgO)₂H₂O (IV), (ZnSO₄)₂(HgO)₂H₂O (V), (ZnSeO₄)₂(HgO)₂H₂O (VI), and the mixed‐valent (ZnSe^IVO₃)(ZnSe^VIO₄)Hg^I₂(OH)₂ (VII) were obtained. The crystal structure determinations from X‐ray diffraction data revealed four unique structure types for these compounds. I and II crystallise isotypically in space group P2/n (a ≈ 7.85, b ≈ 6.28, c ≈ 10.5Å, β ≈ 102°), compound III crystallises in space group C2/m (a = 10.540(2), b = 9.0120(8), c = 6.1330(12)Å, β = 100.45(3)°), and the isotypic compounds IV, V and VI crystallise in space group Pbcm (a ≈ 6.15, b ≈ 11.3, c ≈ 13.1Å). Common with these three structure types are distorted octahedral [MO₆] and tetrahedral XO₄ building units which are organised in a layered assembly. Within the layers H bonding of OH groups or H₂O molecules of the [MO₆] octahedra leads to an additional stabilisation. Adjacent layers are separated by mercury atoms which are linearly bonded to two O atoms at short distances, forming either interconnecting [O‐Hg‐O] units which are part of [O‐Hg‐O]_∞ zig‐zag chains, or single [HO‐Hg‐OH] units (realised in compound III). VII is the only compound with mercury in oxidation state +1. It crystallises in space group C2/m (a = 17.342(3), b = 6.1939(10), c = 4.4713(8)Å, β = 90.154(3)°) and is made up of Hg₂²⁺ dumbbells, [ZnO₄(OH)₂] octahedra, and statistically distributed Se^VIO₄ and Se^IVO₃ groups as the main building units.     

Two novel metal organic frameworks of Sn(II) and Pb(II) with Pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic Acid and 4,4′-Bipyridine: syntheses, crystal structures and solution studies

Two novel compounds with formulae [Sn₂(pydcH)₂(H₂O)₂O]_n, 1, and (4,4′-bpyH₂)_0.5[Pb(pydc)₂(4,4′-bpyH)].4,4′-bpy.4H₂O, 2, were obtained from a one-pot reaction between pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (pydcH₂) and 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4′-bpy) with corresponding Sn(II) and Pb(II) salts. In compound 1 with a polymeric structure, each Sn(II) atom is six-coordinated by one water molecule, two (pydcH)^? groups and one oxide group resulted in a coordination polymer. Compound 2 has a seven-coordinated environment around Pb(II) atom by two (pydc)^2? groups and one (4,4′-bpyH). The anionic complex is balanced by half a (4,4′- bpyH₂)²⁺ as counter ion. There are four uncoordinated water molecules and one 4,4′-bpy in the crystal lattice. Therefore, in compound 2, we have neutral, mono- and biprotonated forms of 4,4′-bipyridine, simultaneously. Several interactions including O-H??? O, O-H???EN and C-H???O hydrogen bonds, ion pairing, C-O???π (O???Cg 3.324(3) Å and 3.381(3) Å in 1 and O???Cg 3.346(4) Å in 2), C-H???π (C???Cg 3.618(4) Å in 2), and π???π stackings (with Cg ??? Cg distances of 3.613(2) and 3.641 (2) Å in 2) are present to expand and stabilize the structure. The complexation reactions of bpy and pydc-bpy with Sn²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions in aqueous solution were investigated by potentiometric pH titrations, and the resulting equilibrium constants and species distributions at various pHs for major formed complexes are described.     

Kinetic studies of the deactivation of O2(1Σg+) and O(1D)

The kinetics of the deactivation of O₂(¹Σ_g⁺) is studied in real time. O₂(¹Σ_g⁺) is generated in this system by the O(¹D) + O₂ reaction following O₃laser flash photolysis in the presence of excess O₂, and it is monitored by its characteristic emission band at 762 nm. Quenching rate constants were obtained for O₂, O₃, N₂, CO₂, H₂O, CF₄and the rare gases. Since O(¹D) is the precursor for the formation of O₂(¹Σ_g⁺), the addition of an O(¹D) quencher effectively lowers the initial concentration of O₂(¹Σ_g⁺). By measuring the initial intensity of the 762 nm fluorescence signal, the relative quenching efficiencies were determined for O(¹D) quenching by N₂, CO₂, Xe, and Kr with respect to O₂; the results are in good agreement with literature values.