Vibrationally excited OH from the reaction of H with NO2 observed by laser-induced fluorescence

Abstract

The reaction H+NO₂→OH+NO, which is widely used as a source of OH radicals for gas kinetic studies, has been thought to yield Oh almost exclusively in the ground state. However, recent experiments indicate that as much as 30% to 50% of the total energy may appear in vibrational excitation. In this study the reaction is studied using a laser‐induced fluorescence method. The results indicate that as little as 10% of the total energy is in vibrational excitation.