Dynamics of Inelastic and Reactive Collisions of O(P) with NO.

The dynamics of O(P) + NO collisions were investigated at a collision energy of ⟨⟩ = 84.0 kcal mol with the use of a crossed molecular beams apparatus employing a rotatable mass spectrometer detector. This experiment was performed with beams of O atoms and isotopically labeled NO molecules to enable the products of reactive and inelastic scattering to be distinguished. Three scattering pathways were observed: inelastic scattering (O + NO), O-atom exchange (O + NO), and O-atom abstraction (OO + N). All product channels exhibited a preponderance of forward scattering, but scattering over a broad angular range was also observed for all products. For inelastic scattering, an average of 90% of the collision energy is retained in the translation of O and NO. On the other hand, for O-atom exchange (which also leads to O + NO products), the collision energy is partitioned roughly evenly between the translation of O + NO and the internal excitation of NO. The available energy for O-atom abstraction is significantly lower than the collision energy because of the endoergicity of this reaction, but the available energy is again roughly evenly partitioned between the translation of OO + N and the internal excitation of the molecular (O) product. The relative yields of the three scattering pathways were determined to be 0.751 for inelastic scattering, 0.220 for O-atom exchange, and 0.029 for O-atom abstraction.