ELEMENTARY REACTION OF NH(A1-DELTA) WITH CO

The elementary reaction of NH(a1Δ) with CO has been studied in the gas phase. Laser photolysis of HN3 (λL = 308 nm) was used as the NH(a) source. NH(a) was detected by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) with the (c1II-a1Δ) transition. The time resolution was obtained from the variable delay between photolysis and detection pulse. The rate constant for NH(a) decay was determined at T = 293 K: k1 = (1.2 ± 0.4) × 1013 cm3/(mol·s). The reaction rate was independent of temperature in the temperature range 293 ≤ T/K ≤ 459. The channel of physical quenching was investigated by LIF detection of NH(X) and was found to be 12%. The chemical pathway predominated with 88%. The product detected by LIF was NCO(X̃). © 1990 American Chemical Society.