THE ROLE OF Mg ($^{3}P$) ATOMS IN THE $Mg + NO_{2}$ REACTION

Abstract

$^{1}$D. J Benard, W. D. Slafer and P. H. Lee, Chem. Phys. Lett-43, 69 (1976). This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy under contract No. H-7405-Eng-48. ""Author Institution: Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, University of CaliforniaThe addition of CO to the $Mg + N_{2}O$ reaction has previously been $reported^{1}$ to enhance the resulting MgO chemiluminescence and to increase the intensity of the forbidden. Mg atom $(^{3}P_{1}\rightarrow\ ^{1}S_{O})$ transition at 457.1 nm. This work examines the role of metastable Mg ($^{3}p$) atoms, produced directly in a low voltage discharge, in the $Mg + N_{2}O$ reaction. Although the metastables are efficiently quenched by the addition of $N_{2}O$, preliminary experiments Indicate the Mg ($^{3}p$) is not the key reactant leading to MgO $(B^{1}\Sigma - X^{1}\Sigma)$ chemilumiescence in the $Mg + N_{2}O$ reaction