Electronic Spectrum of Carbonyl Fluoride

Abstract

The complete electronic spectrum of carbonyl fluoride has been observed for the first time down to 1215 Å. At least four electronic transitions occur in this spectral region. The first three electronic transitions are associated with elaborate vibrational structures, which are analyzed. The transitions are interpreted as two $\mathrm{n\hspace{0.17em}\to \hspace{0.17em}\pi *}$ types and one $\mathrm{n\hspace{0.17em}\to \hspace{0.17em}\sigma *}$ type. A $\mathrm{\pi \hspace{0.17em}\to \hspace{0.17em}\pi *}$ type transition is found at shorter wavelengths. Other unresolved transitions occur at still shorter wavelengths where the intensity increases continuously to the limit of observation. The ionization potential of carbonyl fluoride has been determined by electron impact in a mass spectrometer as 13.17 ± 0.1 eV.