The uptake of ammonia by iron clusters: A new procedure for the study of metal cluster chemistry

Abstract
A new procedure is described for the study of chemical reactions of metal clusters with simple gas phase molecules. It consists of determining the average number of reagent molecules taken up by the clusters as a function of reagent pressure over a very wide range of pressures. When the results of such experiments are appropriately analyzed, they provide information on cluster reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and the composition of reaction products. An illustration of this procedure for the reaction of iron clusters with ammonia is presented.