Absolute Quantum Yield Measurements of the NO–O Reaction and Its Use as a Standard for Chemiluminescent Reactions

Abstract

The spectral distribution of the chemiluminescent reactions O+NO→NO₂+hv has been determined over the wavelength region 3875–14 000 Å. The absolute rate constant was determined by a method of chemical actinometry which required only relative intensity measurements and which is virtually free from geometry errors. The rate constant over this spectral region was found to be 6.4×10^—17 cm³ molecule^—1 sec^—1 within an accuracy of 30%. This reaction can be used as a standard from which the rate constants for other chemiluminescent reactions can be readily obtained without requiring detector calibration or geometry corrections.