A CROSSED-BEAM STUDY OF THE REACTION OF CN-2 - IS CN REALLY A SPECTATOR BOND(D)

The doubly differential cross sections for the title reaction were mea sured in a crossed-beam apparatus. The product c.m. angular distributi ons were sharply backward but showed non-negligible contributions in t he forward hemisphere. Contrary to conventional wisdom, these sideways /forward scatterings decrease with a slight increase in initial collis ion energies. In addition, their product translational energy distribu tions also displayed a strikingly sensitive dependence on the collisio n energies. Two possible scenarios were speculated. Both casted some d oubts about the subtle role the CN radical played in this reaction as posed in the title.