Abstract
A study was made of the kinetic energy of the atomic ions formed by electron impact in NO and HCl. Their energy distribution was measured as a function of the electron energies at impact, and their ionization potentials were determined. The most probable values of the heats of dissociation of the molecules and of the molecular ions were calculated. Negative ions possessing up to 2.5 volts kinetic energy were observed in NO, and the electron affinity of oxygen was calculated. Negative ions found in HCl had less than 0.5 volt energy. The following is a summary of the results and the probable processes: