Rate coefficients have been measured for the spin-allowed transfer of an electron from NO(X(2)Pi) to Au+ (S+), Zn+ (S-2),Se+(S-4), As+(P-3) and Hg+(S-2) at room temperature using an inductively-coupled plasma/selected-ion flow tube (ICP/SIFT) tandem mass spectrometer. The observed range of a factor of 3 in the corresponding reaction efficiencies can be accounted for qualitatively by invoking energy resonance and Franck-Condon factors in the formation of NO+(X(+)Sigma(+),epsilon). The electron transfer to Se+(S-4) may leave the neutral Se product atom in an excited Se*(4p(4),(3)p) state. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.