THE METHOD OF ELECTRONIC CHEMICAL ACTIVATION TO STUDY THE HYDRAZINE DECOMPOSITION VIA THE ELEMENTARY REACTION OF NH(A1-DELTA,UPSILON'' = 0,1) WITH NH3(X)OVERT-TILDE

The elementary reaction of NH(a 1DELTA, upsilon'' = 0,1) with ammonia NH(a 1DELTA, upsilon'' = 0,1) + NH3 --> N2H4 not-equal --> products wa s studied at room temperature in the gas phase at low pressure (p = 20 mbar). NH(a) was produced by HN3 laser photolysis (AL = 248 nm) and d etected by laser induced fluorescence. Time resolution was obtained fr om the variable delay between the photolysis pulse and the detecting l aser pulse. The rate constants were found to be: k1(upsilon'' = 0 = (8 .99 +/- 0.9) . 10(13) cm3/mol s;k1(upsilon'' = 1) = 8.7 +/- 1.3) . 10( 13) cm3/mol s, independent of the vibrational state of NH(a). The prod uct NH2(X) and the quenching pathway [NH(X)] were followed directly an d quantitatively by laser induced fluorescence. [NH2(X)] was calibrate d with respect to [NH(a)]. The quenching pathway was found to be unimp ortant ([NH(X)]infinity/[NH(a)]0 < 1%). The chemical channel NH(a) + N H3 --> N2H4 not-equal --> 2NH2(X) was with (93 +/- 15)% the main react ion pathway.