Reactions of Ar, Kr, and Xe Metastables with Simple NH-Containing Compounds

Abstract

The reactions of Ar*, Kr*, and Xe* with HN3, NH3, and HNCO were studied. Emission spectra from NH (c 1 Π) , (A 3 Π) , CO (a 3 Π) , and N 2 (B 3 Π g ) were observed. The data are consistent with the recent value of 91 kcal mole−1 for ΔH f °( NH ) , but not with standard values in some tables, and support a lower value for the NH (X 3 Σ − –a 1 Δ) separation than is currently accepted. Ar* and Xe* were used in further work on the bond energies of CN‐containing compounds leading to ΔH f °( CN ) ≤ 103 kcal mole −1 . The validity of spin conservation in metastable atom reactions and comparison of metastable impact excitation with vacuum uvphotolysis are discussed.