Measurement of the photoionization spectra and ionization thresholds of the H sub 2 CN and D sub 2 CN radicals

Journal Article · Thu Oct 03 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100173a012· OSTI ID:7265651

Nesbitt, F L; Marston, G; Stief, L J ^[1]; Wickramaaratchi, M A; Tao, W; Klemm, R B ^[2]

---

1. NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (United States)
2. Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States)

The photoionization spectra of the H{sub 2}CN and D{sub 2}CN radicals were obtained by photoionization mass spectroscopy (PIMS) using synchrotron radiation. The radicals were generated by the reaction of N with CH{sub 3} and CD{sub 3}, respectively. For both H{sub 2}CN and D{sub 2}CN a prominent feature was observed near 118.6 nm (10.5 eV) and the ionization threshold was determined to be 9.4 {plus minus} 0.1 eV; both features provide additional signatures for identifying H{sub 2}CN in complex systems. By use of a corrected value for {Delta}H{sub f} (H{sub 2}CN) derived from a recent electron affinity measurement and other available measured or calculated thermochemical quantities for H{sub 2}CN and HCNH radicals and radical ions, a value of 10.8 {plus minus} 0.6 eV for the ionization energy of H{sub 2}CN was derived. The much lower value derived for the ionization energy of HCNH (6.8 and 7.0 eV for the cis and trans isomers, respectively) is consistent with the product of the N + CH{sub 3} reaction being the H{sub 2}CN isomer and not HCNH. The ionization threshold observed at 9.4 eV is attributed to autoionization arising from high Rydberg states of H{sub 2}CN which couple into vibrationally excited states of the linear HCNH{sup +} ground state of the ion. Also discussed are the roles of the H{sub 2}CN radical and HCNH{sup +} radical ion in the chemistry of the atmosphere of Titan and in interstellar clouds.

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 7265651
• Journal Information: Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 95:20; ISSN 0022-3654; ISSN JPCHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400500* -- Photochemistry
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
CARBON COMPOUNDS
DATA
DEUTERIUM COMPOUNDS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
IONIZATION
IONIZATION POTENTIAL
ISOMERS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NUMERICAL DATA
PHOTOIONIZATION
RADIATIONS
RADICALS
SPECTROSCOPY
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION