Reactions of Na+, K+, and Ba+ Ions with O2, NO, and H2O Molecules

Ion–molecule reactions of sodium, potassium, and barium ions with O₂, NO, and H₂O have been studied in a drift tube–mass spectrometer apparatus. The following rate constants or upper limits were obtained: Na⁺,K, ⁺, Ba⁺+O₂(NO)→products, $${\text{k\hspace{0.17em}<\hspace{0.17em}10}}^{\text{−13}}{\mathrm{cm}}^3/\sec \text{(0.04\hspace{0.17em}−\hspace{0.17em}∼\hspace{0.17em}5}\mathrm{eV}\mathrm{),}$$ Na⁺+H₂O+M→Na⁺·H₂O+M, $$k^{\text{(3)}}{\text{\hspace{0.17em}=\hspace{0.17em}1.0(+\hspace{0.17em}0.5, −\hspace{0.17em}0.3)\hspace{0.17em}×\hspace{0.17em}10}}^{\text{−28}}{\mathrm{cm}}^6/\sec \mathrm{for\; M}\mathrm{\hspace{0.17em}=\hspace{0.17em}}{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O},$$ $$k^{\text{(3)}}{\text{\hspace{0.17em}=\hspace{0.17em}4.7(+\hspace{0.17em}1.2, −\hspace{0.17em}1.0)\hspace{0.17em}×\hspace{0.17em}10}}^{\text{−30}}{\mathrm{cm}}^6/\sec \mathrm{for\; M}\mathrm{\hspace{0.17em}=\hspace{0.17em}}\mathrm{He},$$ K⁺+H₂O+M→K⁺·H₂O+M, $$k^{\text{(3)}}{\text{\hspace{0.17em}=\hspace{0.17em}4.5(+\hspace{0.17em}2.3, −\hspace{0.17em}1.5)\hspace{0.17em}×\hspace{0.17em}10}}^{\text{−29}}{\mathrm{cm}}^6/\sec \mathrm{for\; M}\mathrm{\hspace{0.17em}=\hspace{0.17em}}{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O},$$ $$k^{\text{(3)}}{\text{\hspace{0.17em}=\hspace{0.17em}2.6(+\hspace{0.17em}0.7, −\hspace{0.17em}0.5)\hspace{0.17em}×\hspace{0.17em}10}}^{\text{−30}}{\mathrm{cm}}^6/\sec \mathrm{for\; M}\mathrm{\hspace{0.17em}=\hspace{0.17em}}\mathrm{He}.$$ The consequences of these results for the $D$ and $E$ region of the upper atmosphere are briefly described.