TEMPERATURE, KINETIC-ENERGY, AND ROTATIONAL TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCES FOR THE REACTIONS OF AR-2(3( (P)2)) WITH O2 AND CO/

Rate constants for the charge transfer reactions of Ar+ (2P3/2) with O 2 and CO have been measured as a function of average center-of-mass ki netic energy [ KE(cm) ] at three temperatures: 93, 300 and 543 K. The rate constants for both reactions were found to be slow at room temper ature and to decrease with increasing kinetic energy or temperature in good agreement with previous data, No temperature dependence of the r ate constants was found at any given [ KE(cm) ] for both reactions, in dicating that neither O2 nor CO rotational excitation has much effect on the overall reactivity. The data also indicate that O2 vibrational excitation does not increase the rate constant to the collisional valu e.