Reaction of Nitrogen Atoms with Ozone Available to Purchase

The reaction of ozonized oxygen and active nitrogen at room temperature has been shown to produce, almost exclusively, nitrous oxide. Rate measurements in a flow system have been analyzed as involving a primary reaction N+O₃→NO+O₂. Accepting present values for the specific rates of subsequent reactions of nitric oxide, the rate of the primary reaction is found to be 10¹⁰ ml/mole sec. This is several orders faster than the reaction of nitrogen atoms and oxygen molecules and many orders faster than the three‐body recombination of atomic nitrogen and atomic oxygen, substantiating the Barth‐Kaplan suggestion of the probable source of nitric oxide in the upper atmosphere.