Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Vol.101, No.37, 6922-6930, 1997
Crossed molecular beam study of the reaction Br+O-3
The reaction of ground-state Br(P-2(3/2)) atom with ozone molecule has been studied by the crossed molecular beams technique at five different center-of-mass (CM) collision energies ranging from 5 to 26 kcal/mol. Product CM translational energy distribution and angular distribution have been derived from experimental data. The average product translational energy ranges from 30 to 60% of the total available energy, BrO product is forward and sideways scattered with respect to the Pr atom in the CM frame, With the increase of collision energy, the fraction of the total energy channeled into products' translation is increased, and the BrO product is scattered to a more forward direction. The product translational energy release depends strongly on the CM scattering angles, with the translational energy in the forward direction larger than that in the backward direction. The Br + O-3 reaction is a direct reaction, and the Pr atom most likely attacks a terminal oxygen atom of the ozone molecule. Detailed comparison of the experimental results for the Cl + O-3 and Pr + O-3 reactions shows that these two reactions have very similar mechanisms. Ozone electronic structure plays a central role in determining the reaction mechanisms.