The reaction of (SO2)2 and (CO2)2 with Ba

The reactions of (CO₂)₂ and (SO₂)₂ with Ba have been investigated using a crossed beam arrangement and the laser-induced fluorescence technique. Internal energy in the BaO product was probed in order to study differences between monomeric and dimeric reactions. The reaction cross section for the dimers of CO₂ was found to be between four and eightfold larger than that of the monomers. This can be explained by the change in the reaction mechanism due to the positive electron affinity of the dimers versus the negative electron affinity of the monomers. The product BaO from the dimeric reactions is much colder rotationally than in the monomeric case. This phenomenon can be explained based on the kinematics.