Kinetics of the reaction between oxygen atoms and carbon disulfide

Abstract

The open channels of the room temperature 0+CS₂ reaction have been identified by studying this reaction in high‐intensity undiscriminated crossed molecular beams using photoionization mass spectrometry to detect the products. Three open channels have been identified: O + CS₂ → CS + SO (1); O + CS₂ → OCS + S (2); and O + CS₂ → CO + S₂ (3). The overall rate constant (k) of the O + CS₂ reaction as well as the branching ratio (k₂/k) for Channel (2) were measured at 302°K using a fast‐flow reactor. They are k=4.0×10⁻¹² cm³ p⁻¹ sec⁻¹, and k₂/k=0.093. Speculation on the branching ratios for Channels (1) and (3) are offered based on the results of the crossed beam experiments. The possible roles of OCS production by Channel (2) and CO production by Channel (3) in the performance of the O+CS₂ chemical laser are mentioned.