Reaction of Electronically Excited O2 with CO

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Photolysis of solutions of O2 in CO at 77°K with 2537‐Å radiation has been found to produce O3 and CO2. Absorption of radiation in this wavelength region by O2 corresponds to the forbidden transition 3Σ u +←3Σ g —, the Herzberg bands of O2. Since O2 but not CO absorbs 2537‐Å radiation and since O2 cannot dissociate directly, the reaction must occur between excited O2 and CO. The quantum yield for O3 formation in the limit of low O2 concentration is of the order of 0.33 and increases slightly with increasing O2. In the concentration range studied CO2 is formed somewhat faster than O3. These results suggest that an intermediate is involved in the reaction which is capable of direct reaction with CO and O2 to form products. This intermediate is proposed to be CO3 *, and a mechanism involving this species is postulated.

This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit: