On the importance of Ba(3D) as the key reactant leading to BaO(A–X) chemiluminescence in the Ba+N2O reaction

Abstract

Experiments have been performed to examine the importance of metastable Ba(³D) as the key reactant leading to BaO(A→X) chemiluminescence in the Ba+N₂O reaction. It has been found that the steady state concentration of Ba(³D) increases substantially in the reaction of Ba with N₂O; in contrast, the Ba(³D) steady state concentration decreases when O₂ and NO₂ are used as oxidants. By simultaneously monitoring the BaO(A→X) chemiluminescence and the Ba(³D) steady state concentration, it is shown that with the oxidant unchanged, an order of magnitude increase in Ba(³D) has no major effect (±15%) on the BaO(A→X) emission. These results restrict the role played by Ba(³D) in the reaction mechanism leading to A→X chemiluminescence.