The formation of O2(a1Δg) in homogeneous and heterogeneous atom recombination

Abstract

The recombination of oxygen atoms has been studied in a discharge flow system at room temperature. The yield of O2(a1Δg) in the recombination on Pyrex has been found to be 0.08 (±0.02). In the gas phase, O2(a) was found to be formed in a process that is second order in [O] and first order in [N2]. The rate constant for this third-order reaction was found to be 3.4 (±0.4) × 10−34 cm6∙molecule−2∙s−1, representing a yield of 0.07 (±0.02). In the presence of molecular oxygen, the rate of production of O2(a) was found to increase. A kinetic study of this effect led to the conclusion that collisions of molecular oxygen with an unidentified precursor can produce O2(a) with high efficiency.