The application of the simplified form of the quasiequilibrium theory to the mass spectra of some mononuclear metal carbonyls

The concept of molecular ions and metal-containing fragment ions formed in the mass spectra of the mononuclear metal carbonyls, M(CO)₆ (M = Cr, Mo,W), Fe(CO)₅, Ni(CO)₄, containing the metal in an excited state appears to violate the quasi-equilibrium theory. Calculations, using the simplified form of the theory, show that the high values obtained for the heats of formation of the metal ions determined by mass spectrometry axe consistent with the “excess energies” representing kinetic shifts.