"For the reaction of nitrogen atoms with molecular oxygen, the nitrogen and oxygen atom concentrations were estimated, at different temperatures and pressures, by addition of excess N0 and measurement of N2O and NO produced. The rate constant was given by 2.3 x 10^12 exp(-5,900/RT) cc mole^-1 sec^-1. The maximum production of oxygen atoms was found to correspond to the maximum amount of HCN produced in the active nitrogen-ethylene reaction. A rate constant of 1.83(+- 0.2) x 10^15 cc^2 mole^-2 sec^-1 was determined for the reaction of nitrogen atoms with oxygen atoms, in the absence of molecular oxygen, at pressures of 3, 3.5 and 4 mm, in an unheated reaction tube. The nitrogen atom consumption was estimated by titrating active nitrogen with NO at different positions along the reaction tube. Using the same titration method, the rate constant for the decay of nitrogen atoms, in an unheated vessel, was found to have the value of 5.2 x 10^15 cc^2 mole^-2 sec^-1, with y= 7.5 (-+ 0.6) x 10^-5, in the pressure range from 0.5 to 4 mm. Under similar conditions, and by similar methods, a value of 4.87(+- 0.8) x 10^14 cc^2 mole^-2 sec^-l was obtained for the rate constant of the reaction between nitrogen atoms and hydrogen atoms, over the pressure range from 2.5 mm to 4.5 mm." --

Physical Chemistry, A Series of Monographs: Active Nitrogen presents the methods by which active nitrogen may be produced. This book is composed of five chapters that evaluate the energy content, molecular spectrum, and the emission of active nitrogen. Some of the topics covered in the book are the summary of light-emitting systems of active nitrogen; analysis of Long-Lived Lewis-Rayleigh Afterglow theory and Ionic theory of Mitra; reactions followed by induced light emission; and characteristics of homogeneous recombination. Other chapters deal with the analysis of metastable molecule theories and the mechanisms for reactions of active nitrogen involving direct N(4S) attack. The discussion then shifts to the rate constants for reactions induced by direct N(4S) attack. The evaluation of the Short-Lived Energetic Afterglow theory is presented. The final chapter is devoted to the examination of emission from molecular species with electronic energy levels below 9.76 eV. The book can provide useful information to physicists, students, and researchers.

The afterglow emission intensities of the nitrogen first positive bands, the nitric oxide beta, gamma, and delta bands, and the atomic oxygen green line were examined under conditions in which the constituents of the afterglow source were varied chemically. The nature of the particles that interact to produce excited nitric oxide molecules and excited oxygen atoms in afterglow sources were determined. The results were applied to the excitation of atomic oxygen in the upper atmosphere of the earth. In the past, the excitation of atomic oxygen in the upper atmosphere has been explained by the Chapman process in which three oxygen atoms collided to form molecular oxygen and excited atomic oxygen in the 1S state. The laboratory experiments presented here do not support the Chapman process; under favorable conditions for the Chapman process, the intensity of the atomic oxygen green line approached zero. The excitation process that gives rise to the green line in laboratory afterflows probably is not operative in the upper atomophere because of the expected low density of atomic nitrogen at altitudes where emission of OI 5577 originates. (Author).