Ab initio calculations of nitrogen oxide reactions: formation of N2O2, N2O3, N2O4, N2O5, and N4O2 from NO, NO2, NO3, and N2O

Ab initio computational methods were used to obtain Delta(r)H(o), Delta(r)G(o), and Delta(r)S(o) for the reactions 2 NO <=> N(2)O(2) (I), NO+NO(2) <=> N(2)O(3) (II), 2 NO(2) <=> N(2)O(4) (III), NO(2)+NO(3) <=> N(2)O(5) (IV), and 2 N(2)O <=> N(4)O(2) (V) at 298.15 K. Optimized geometries and frequencies were obtained at the CCSD(T) level for all molecules except for NO, NO(2), and NO(3), for which UCCSD(T) was used. In all cases the aug-cc-pVDZ (avdz) basis set was employed. The electronic energies of all species were obtained from complete basis set extrapolations (to aug-cc-pV5Z) using five different extrapolation methods. The [U]CCSD(T)/avdz geometries and frequencies of the N(x)O(y) compounds are compared with literature values, and problems associated with the values and assignments of low-frequency modes are discussed. The standard entropies are compared with values cited in the NIST/JANAF tables [NIST-JANAF Thermochemical Tables, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data Monograph No. 9, 4th ed. edited by M. W. Chase, Jr. (American Chemical Society and American Institute of Physics, Woodbury, NY, 1988)]. With the exception of I, in which the dimer is weakly bound, and V, for which thermodynamic data appears to be lacking, the calculated standard thermodynamic functions of reaction are in good agreement with literature values obtained both from statistical mechanical and various equilibrium methods. A multireference-configuration interaction calculation (MRCI+Q) for I provides a D(e) value that is consistent with previous calculations. The combined uncertainties of the NIST/JANAF values for Delta(r)H(o), Delta(r)G(o), and Delta(r)S(o) of II, III, and IV are discussed. The potential surface for the dissociation of N(2)O(4) was explored using multireference methods. No evidence of a barrier to dissociation was found.     

A kinetic study of the reactions of Ca+ ions with O3, O2, N2, CO2 and H2O

The reactions between Ca(+)(4(2)S(1/2)) and O(3), O(2), N(2), CO(2) and H(2)O were studied using two techniques: the pulsed laser photo-dissociation at 193 nm of an organo-calcium vapour, followed by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy of Ca(+) at 393.37 nm (Ca(+)(4(2)P(3/2)-4(2)S(1/2))); and the pulsed laser ablation at 532 nm of a calcite target in a fast flow tube, followed by mass spectrometric detection of Ca(+). The rate coefficient for the reaction with O(3) is essentially independent of temperature, k(189-312 K) = (3.9 +/- 1.2) x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), and is about 35% of the Langevin capture frequency. One reason for this is that there is a lack of correlation between the reactant and product potential energy surfaces for near coplanar collisions. The recombination reactions of Ca(+) with O(2), CO(2) and H(2)O were found to be in the fall-off region over the experimental pressure range (1-80 Torr). The data were fitted by RRKM theory combined with quantum calculations on CaO(2)(+), Ca(+).CO(2) and Ca(+).H(2)O, yielding the following results with He as third body when extrapolated from 10(-3)-10(3) Torr and a temperature range of 100-1500 K. For Ca(+) + O(2): log(10)(k(rec,0)/cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1)) = -26.16 - 1.113log(10)T- 0.056log(10)(2)T, k(rec,infinity) = 1.4 x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), F(c) = 0.56. For Ca(+) + CO(2): log(10)(k(rec,0)/ cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1)) = -27.94 + 2.204log(10)T- 1.124log(10)(2)T, k(rec,infinity) = 3.5 x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), F(c) = 0.60. For Ca(+) + H(2)O: log(10)(k(rec,0)/ cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1)) = -23.88 - 1.823log(10)T- 0.063log(10)(2)T, k(rec,infinity) = 7.3 x 10(-11)exp(830 J mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), F(c) = 0.50 (F(c) is the broadening factor). A classical trajectory analysis of the Ca(+) + CO(2) reaction is then used to investigate the small high pressure limiting rate coefficient, which is significantly below the Langevin capture frequency. Finally, the implications of these results for calcium chemistry in the mesosphere are discussed.     

Kinetics of CN reactions with N2O and CO2

The rate constants for the reaction of CN with N₂O and CO₂ have been measured by the laser dissociation/laser-induced fluorescence (two-laser pump-probe) technique at temperatures between 300 and 740 K. The rate of CN + N₂O was measurable above 500 K, with a least-squares averaged rate constant, k = 10^−11.8±0.4 exp(−3560 ± 181/T) cm³/s. The rate of CN + CO₂, however, was not measurable even at the highest temperature reached in the present work, 743 K, with [CO₂] ⩽ 1.9 × 10¹⁸ molecules/cm³. In order to rationalize the observed kinetics, quantum mechanical calculations based on the BAC-MP4 method were performed. The results of these calculations reveal that the CN + N₂O reaction takes place via a stable adduct NCNNO with a small barrier of 1.1 kcal/mol. The adduct, which is more stable than the reactants by 13 kcal/mol, decomposes into the NCN + NO products with an activation energy of 20.0 kcal/mol. This latter process is thus the rate-controlling step in the CN + N₂O reaction. The CN + CO₂ reaction, on the other hand, occurs with a large barrier of 27.4 kcal/mol, producing an unstable adduct NCOCO which fragments into NCO + CO with a small barrier of 4.5 kcal/mol. The large overall activation energy for this process explains the negligibly low reactivity of the CN radical toward CO₂ below 1000 K. Least-squares analyses of the computed rate constants for these two CN reactions, which fit well with experimental data, give rise to for the temperature range 300–3000 K.     

An investigation of the reactions of H3O+ and O2+ with NO, NO2, N2O and HNO2 in support of selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry

A selected ion flow tube (SIFT) experimental investigation has been carried out of the reactions of H3O+, NO+ and O2+ with NO, NO2, N2O and HNO2, in order to obtain the essential kinetic data for the analyses of these compounds in air using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS). These investigations show that NO+ ions do not react at a significant rate with any of these NOx compounds and that H3O+ ions react only with HNO2 (product ions H2NO2+ (75%) and NO+ (25%)). O2+ ions react with NO (product ion NO+), NO2 (product ion NO2+) and HNO2 (product ions NO+ (75%), NO2+ (25%)), but not with N2O. We conclude that both NO and NO2 can be accurately quantified in air using only O2+ precursor ions and SIFT-MS when HNO2 is not present. However, when HNO2 is present it invariably co-exists with both NO and NO2 and then both H3O+ and O2+ precursor ions are needed to determine the partial pressures of NO, NO2 and HNO2 in the air mixture. We also conclude that currently N2O cannot be analysed in air using SIFT-MS.     

A kinetic study of the reactions of Fe+ with N2O, N2, O2, CO2 and H2O, and the ligand-switching reactions Fe+.X + Y --> Fe+.Y + X (X = N2, O2, CO2; Y = O2, H2O)

A series of reactions involving Fe(+) ions were studied by the pulsed laser ablation of an iron target, with detection of ions by quadrupole mass spectrometry at the downstream end of a fast flow tube. The reactions of Fe(+) with N(2)O, N(2) and O(2) were studied in order to benchmark this new technique. Extending measurements of the rate coefficient for Fe(+) + N(2)O from 773 K to 185 K shows that the reaction exhibits marked non-Arrhenius behaviour, which appears to be explained by excitation of the N(2)O bending vibrational modes. The recombination of Fe(+) with CO(2) and H(2)O in He was then studied over a range of pressure and temperature. The data were fitted by RRKM theory combined with ab initio quantum calculations on Fe(+).CO(2) and Fe(+).H(2)O, yielding the following results (120-400 K and 0-10(3) Torr). For Fe(+) + CO(2): k(rec,0) = 1.0 x 10(-29) (T/300 K)(-2.31) cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1); k(rec,infinity) = 8.1 x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). For Fe(+) + H(2)O: k(rec,0) = 5.3 x 10(-29) (T/300 K)(-2.02) cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1); k(rec,infinity) = 2.1 x 10(-9) (T/300 K)(-0.41) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). The uncertainty in these rate coefficients is determined using a Monte Carlo procedure. A series of exothermic ligand-switching reactions were also studied at 294 K: k(Fe(+).N(2) + O(2)) = (3.17 +/- 0.41) x 10(-10), k(Fe(+).CO(2) + O(2)) = (2.16 +/- 0.35) x 10(-10), k(Fe(+).N(2) + H(2)O) = (1.25 +/- 0.14) x 10(-9) and k(Fe(+).O(2) + H(2)O) = (8.79 +/- 1.30) x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), which are all between 36 and 52% of their theoretical upper limits calculated from long-range capture theory. Finally, the role of these reactions in the chemistry of meteor-ablated iron in the upper atmosphere is discussed. The removal rates of Fe(+) by N(2), O(2), CO(2) and H(2)O at 90 km altitude are approximately 0.1, 0.07, 3 x 10(-4) and 1 x 10(-6) s(-1), respectively. The initially formed Fe(+).N(2) and Fe(+).O(2) are converted into the H(2)O complex at approximately 0.05 s(-1). Fe(+).H(2)O should therefore be the most abundant single-ligand Fe(+) complex in the mesosphere below 90 km.     

Guided ion beam studies of the reactions of O+, O 2 + , N+ and N 2 + with silane

Guided ion beam mass spectrometry is used to measure the cross sections as a function of kinetic energy for reaction of SiH₄ with O⁺(⁴S), O ₂ ⁺ (²Π_g,v=0), N⁺(³P), and N ₂ ⁺ (²Σ _g ⁺ ,v=0). All four ions react with silane by dissociative charge-transfer to form SiH _m ⁺ (m=0?3), and all but N ₂ ⁺ also form SiXH _m ⁺ products where (m=0?3) andX=O, O₂ or N. The overall reactivity of the O⁺, O ₂ ⁺ , and N⁺ systems show little dependence on kinetic energy, but for the case of N ₂ ⁺ , the reaction probability and product distribution relies heavily on the kinetic energy of the system. The present results are compared with those previously reported for reactions of the rare gas ions with silane [13] and are discussed in terms of vertical ionization from the 1t ₂ and 3a ₁ bands of SiH₄. Thermal reaction rates are also provided and dicussed.     

Proton transfer reactions from H3+ ions to N2, O2, and CO molecules

The rate constants for proton transfer from H₃⁺ ions to N₂, O₂, and CO have been measured as function of hydrogen buffer gas partial pressure. The rate constant for proton transfer from H₃⁺ to N₂ shows a very large pressure dependence, increasing from 1.0 × 10^?9 cm³/s at low H₂ partial pressures to 1.7 × 10^?9 cm³/s at high H₂ partial pressures. The rate constants for proton transfer from H₃⁺ to O₂ and CO are constant with partial pressure of H₂; giving values of 6.4 × 10^?10 cm³/s and 1.7 × 10^?9 cm³/s, respectively. The roles of excess vibrational energy in H₃⁺ ions and of equilibrium between forward and back reaction are discussed. Back reaction is observed only for the reaction of H₃⁺ ions with O₂, and an equilibrium constant of K = 2.0 ± 0.4 at 298 K has been determined. From these data the proton affinity of O₂ is deduced to be 0.47 ± 0.11 kcal/mole higher than that of H₂.     

Theoretical study of reactions of N2O with NO and OH radicals

The reactions of N₂O with NO and OH radicals have been studied using ab initio molecular orbital theory. The energetics and molecular parameters, calculated by the modified Gaussian-2 method (G2M), have been used to compute the reaction rate constants on the basis of the TST and RRKM theories. The reaction N₂O + NO → N₂ + NO₂ (1) was found to proceed by direct oxygen abstraction and to have a barrier of 47 kcal/mol. The theoretical rate constant, k₁ = 8.74 × 10⁻¹⁹ × T^2.23 exp (−23,292/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, is in close agreement with earlier estimates. The reaction of N₂O with OH at low temperatures and atmospheric pressure is slow and dominated by association, resulting in the HONNO intermediate. The calculated rate constant for 300 K ≤ T ≤ 500 K is lower by a few orders than the upper limits previously reported in the literature. At temperatures higher than 1000 K, the N₂O + OH reaction is dominated by the N₂ + O₂H channel, while the HNO + NO channel is slower by 2–3 orders of magnitude. The calculated rate constants at the temperature range of 1000–5000 K for N₂O + OH → N₂ + O₂H (2A) and N₂O + OH → HNO + NO (2B) are fitted by the following expressions: in units of cm³ molecule ⁻¹s⁻¹. Both N₂O + NO and N₂O + OH reactions are confirmed to enhance, albeit inefficiently, the N₂O decomposition by reducing its activation energy. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Drift tube investigations on the reactions of O 2 + with CH4 and of CO 2 + with NO in various buffer gases

The influence of internal excitation on the reactions of O ₂ ⁺ + CH₄ and of CO ₂ ⁺ + NO has been investigated using a slow flow drift tube. The rate coefficients for these reactions obtained as a function of relative kinetic energy in various buffer gases like He, Ne, Ar, and Kr showed higher values under conditions where the internal excitation of the reactant ions was enhanced. For both reactions the lowest reactivity at all kinetic energies was observed to occur in He, indicating that He is the least effective buffer for collisionally inducing internal excitation of molecular ions.     

Shock-tube studies of the reactions of NO2 with NO2, SO2, and CO

The thermal decomposition of NO₂ and its atom-transfer reactions with SO₂ and CO have been studied behind incident shock waves using photometric detection methods. From the decomposition study it is possible to obtain information on the rate of the reaction 2NO₂ → antisymmetric-NO₃ + NO. The results on the reaction, NO₂ + SO₂ → NO + SO₃ extend the earlier work of Armitage and Cullis to about 2000°K. The reaction with CO [NO₂ +] [CO NO + CO₂] at shock temperatures is somewhat faster than predicted from available low-temperature data and provides a modification of the rate-constant expression that is applicable over a wide temperature range.     

Transition probabilities for the ionization of N2, O2, NO and CO molecules

Franck–Condon factors are presented for the normal and stable isotope-labelled N₂, O₂, NO and CO molecules for transitions to the observed ionized states by using the Rydberg–Klein–Rees (RKR ) potential energy curves of the various electronic states involved. It has been observed that for some transitions, the Franck–Condon factors based on the RKR potential energy curves differ appreciably from those based on the Morse potential function. The effect of isotopic substitution on the transition probabilities is also quite significant in a number of cases.     

A study of the reaction NO3 + NO2 + M → N2O5 + M(M = N2, O2)

The gas-phase reaction of the NO₃ radical with NO₂ was investigated, using a flash photolysis-visible absorption technique, over the total pressure range 25–400 Torr of nitrogen or oxygen diluent at 298 ± 2 K. The absolute rate constants determined (in units of 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) at 25, 100, and 400 Torr total pressure were, respectively, (4.0 ± 0.5), (7.0 ± 0.7), and (10 ± 2) for M = N₂ and (4.5 ± 0.5), (8.0 ± 0.4), and (8.8 ± 2.0) for M = O₂. These data show that the third-body efficiencies of N₂ and O₂ are identical, within the error limits, and that previous evaluations for M = N₂ are applicable to the atmosphere. In addition, upper limits were determined for the rate constants of the reactions of the NO₃ radical with methanol, ethanol, and propan-2-ol of ?6 × 10^?16, ?9 × 10^?16, and ?2.3 × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively, at 298 ± 2 K.     

A spectroscopic study of the equilibrium NO2 + NO3 + M 2 N2O5 + M and the kinetics of the O3/N2O5/NO3/NO2/ air system

The equilibrium constant, K_eq of the reaction NO₂ + NO₃ + M 2 N₂O₅ + M has been determined for a small range of temperatures around room temperature in air at 740 torr by direct spectroscopical measurements of NO₂, NO₃, and N₂O₅. At 298 K, K_eq was determined as (3.73 ± 0.61) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹. Averaging this and 11 other independent evaluations of K_eq yields K_eq = (3.31 ± 0.82) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹, where the uncertainty is given as one standard deviation. The kinetics of the O₃/NO₂/N₂O₅/NO₃/ air system was studied in a static chamber at room temperature and 740 torr total pressure. Evidence of a unimolecular decay reaction of NO₃, NO₃ → NO + O₂, was found and its rate coefficient was estimated as (1.6 ± 0.7) × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ at 295 ± 2 K.     

The formation of NO+ from the reaction of N2(2+) with O2

We have studied the potentially ionospherically significant reaction between N(2)2+ with O2 using position-sensitive coincidence spectroscopy. We observe both nondissociative and dissociative electron transfer reactions as well as two channels involving the formation of NO+. The NO+ product is formed together with either N+ and O in one bond-forming channel or O+ and N in the other bond-forming channel. Using the scattering diagrams derived from the coincidence data, it seems clear that both bond-forming reactions proceed via a collision complex [N2O2]2+. This collision complex then decays by loss of a neutral atom to form a daughter dication (NO2(2+) or N2O2+), which then decays by charge separation to yield the observed products.     

A kinetic study of the reactions FeO+ + O, Fe+.N2 + O, Fe+.O2 + O and FeO+ + CO: implications for sporadic E layers in the upper atmosphere

These gas-phase reactions were studied by pulsed laser ablation of an iron target to produce Fe(+) in a fast flow tube, with detection of the ions by quadrupole mass spectrometry. Fe(+).N(2) and Fe(+).O(2) were produced by injecting N(2) and O(2), respectively, into the flow tube. FeO(+) was produced from Fe(+) by addition of N(2)O, or by ligand-switching from Fe(+).N(2) following the addition of atomic O. The following rate coefficients were measured: k(FeO(+) + O --> Fe(+) + O(2), 186-294 K) = (3.2 +/- 1.5) x 10(-11); k(Fe(+).N(2) + O --> FeO(+)+ N(2), 294 K) = (4.6 +/- 2.5) x 10(-10); k(Fe(+).O(2) + O --> FeO(+) + O(2), 294 K) = (6.3 +/- 2.7) x 10(-11); and k(FeO(+) + CO --> Fe(+) + CO(2), 294 K) = (1.59 +/- 0.34) x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), where the quoted uncertainties are a combination of the 1sigma standard errors in the kinetic data and the systematic experimental errors. The surprisingly slow reaction between FeO(+) and O is examined using ab initio quantum calculations of the relevant potential energy surfaces. The importance of this reaction for controlling the lifetime of sporadic E layers is then demonstrated using a model of the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere.     

Removal of NO in NO/N2, NO/N2/O2, NO/CH4/N2, and NO/CH4/O2/N2 systems by flowing microwave discharges

In this paper, continuing previous work, we report on experiments carried out to investigate the removal of NO from simulated flue gas in nonthermal plasmas. The plasma-induced decomposition of small concentrations of NO in N2 used as the carrier gas and O2 and CH4 as minority components has been studied in a surface wave discharge induced with a surfatron launcher. The reaction products and efficiency have been monitored by mass spectrometry as a function of the composition of the mixture. NO is effectively decomposed into N2 and O2 even in the presence of O2, provided always that enough CH4 is also present in the mixture. Other majority products of the plasma reactions under these conditions are NH3, CO, and H2. In the absence of O2, decomposition of NO also occurs, although in that case HCN accompanies the other reaction products as a majority component. The plasma for the different reaction mixtures has been characterized by optical emission spectroscopy. Intermediate excited species of NO*, C*, CN*, NH*, and CH* have been monitored depending on the gas mixture. The type of species detected and their evolution with the gas composition are in agreement with the reaction products detected in each case. The observations by mass spectrometry and optical emission spectroscopy are in agreement with the kinetic reaction models available in literature for simple plasma reactions in simple reaction mixtures.     

The Interaction of O2, NO,and N2O with Surface Defects of Dispersed Titanium Dioxide

A combined study of intrinsic structural defects in reduced TiO₂ was performed using mass spectrometry, optical diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy, and UV photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). It was found that the reduction of TiO₂ resulted in the appearance of absorption in the region 0.50 h 3.50 eV (400 2500 nm), which is formed by absorption due to free electrons (a continuum at h 1.50 eV), local centers—Ti³⁺ ions (a band at 2.00 eV), and oxygen vacancies (bands at 1.17, 2.81, and 2.55 eV). The spectrum of induced occupied electronic states in the forbidden gap and the position of oxygen vacancy levels with respect to the Fermi level were determined by UPS. The absorption of reduced TiO₂ was stable on the sample to T = 800 K in a vacuum; however, it weakened in contact with O₂, NO, and N₂O molecules beginning at T = 300 K (surface sites) and T 400 K (subsurface sites) as a result of filling oxygen vacancies with atomic oxygen in the course of dissociative adsorption. The adsorption complexes formed by the interaction of O₂, NO, and N₂O with defects were analyzed by temperature-programmed desorption. The distribution of sites over the energies of oxygen binding was found with the use of a nonuniform surface model, and specific oxygen adsorption species were revealed. It was found that the irradiation of TiO₂ activates the formation and decay of sites and results in the formation of specific O₂ and N₂O adsorption species.     

Contrasting chemiluminescent metal oxide formation: In the single collision reactions of boron with O2, NO2, N2O,O3 and ClO2

An intense source has been developed to study the reactions of boron (²P) atoms with O₂, NO₂, N₂O, ClO₂, and O₃. The chemiluminescent emissions which characterize the bimolecular reaction of boron with O₂, N₂O, ClO₂, and O₃ are dominated by the A ²Π-X ²Σ⁺ band system of BO. In contrast the chemiluminescence from the boron- NO₂ reaction is dominated by strong BO₂ A ²Π_u-X ²Σ_g emission.