Effects of water, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide on active nitrogen

Abstract

The addition of 10–50 % of H₂O, CO₂ and N₂O to active nitrogen in the range 2–6 mm Hg total pressure results in slight decomposition of these gases. Photometric techniques have been used to study these processes in a fast flow system, measuring the resultant rate of appearance of oxygen atoms. N₂(A³Σ⁺ _u), formed by a large fraction of three-body recombinations of nitrogen atoms, is responsible for the decomposition. This state has been postulated to be the precursor of the nitrogen first positive emission and an examination of the effect of the additives on various spectral regions of the afterglow confirms this view. Three-body recombination rates for the reactions N + N + M = N₂+ M (3) and N + O + M = NO + M (2) have been determined giving the following results: [graphic omitted]