Direct Detection of the Product Vibrational-State Distribution in the Associative Detachment ReactionCl+HHCl(v)+e

Abstract
The initial product vibrational-state distribution is obtained for the thermal associative-detachment reaction, Cl+HHCl(v=0, 1, 2)+e, produced by infrared chemiluminescence in a flowing afterglow. The ratio of HCl(v=2) to HCl(v=1) population formed in the reaction is Nv=2Nv=1=0.60±0.03. Comparison of the total emission intensity to that from a reaction of similar exothermicity suggests that HCl(v=0) formation may be small.