Electron spin resonance studies of irradiated nitrous oxide

Abstract

The y-radiolysis of N 2 0 at 77 O K , or vapor phase irradiation with 1 MeV He+ ions followed by condensation at 77 OK, results in the formation and trapping of at least 4 paramagnetic species. Using isotopically labelled N 2 0 these are identified as N 2 0 + , NO,, NO3, and N. The latter assignment is reasonable on spectroscopic grounds but since this species arises exclusively from the central nitrogen of N 2 0 it is difficult to describe its formation from established chemical reactions. The addition of H,O to the vapor phase experiments resulted in the trapping of 0 -, while the addition of tetranitromethane or NO indicated the existence of 0,-and 0 atoms, respectively. Possible reaction mechanisms are indicated.