Ion–Molecule Reactions in NO–NH3 Gas Mixtures

Abstract

Stationary afterglow techniques have been employed to produce and observe ions reacting in NO–NH₃ gas mixtures. The precursor ion, NO⁺, is found to cluster with NH₃ and then reacts further to yield NH₄⁺. Arguments are presented for the formation of ONNH₂ as a byproduct of the latter reaction. The NH₄⁺ ion undergoes successive clustering with NH₃ to produce NH₄⁺·nNH₃, $\text{n\hspace{0.17em}=\hspace{0.17em}1, 2, 3}$ . The NH₃ clustering reactions are similar to those observed for H₂O in NO–H₂O and O₂–H₂O gas mixtures. Rate constants for all forward and all observed reverse reactions have been measured at 296°K.