Product distributions for the ion–molecule reactions N++O2 and N3++O2

Abstract

The title reactions were studied using a drift tube–mass spectrometer apparatus featuring preselection of injected primary ions. Measurements of the reduced mobilities of N⁺ and N₃⁺ indicate experimental conditions such that the energies of the reacting ions are close to thermal (300 K). Rate coefficients obtained for the title reactions are k₃=7.5×10⁻¹⁰ cm³ sec⁻¹ for the reaction N⁺+O₂ and k₆=7.7×10⁻¹¹ cm³/sec⁻¹ for the reaction N₃⁺+O₂, in good agreement with literature values. Several other rate coefficients for reactions of N⁺, N₂⁺, and N₄⁺ ions are also in agreement with previous data. Altogether seven reactions had to be taken into account to derive the product distributions for the title reactions. The resulting product yields are 0.45, 0.41, 0.09 for the products O₂⁺, NO⁺, and O⁺, respectively, from the N⁺+O₂ reaction; and 0.49, 0.65 for the products NO⁺ and NO₂⁺, respectively, from the N₃⁺+O₂ reactions.