ISOTOPE-EXCHANGE IN IONIZED O-3 O-2 MIXTURES - THE ROLE OF O-5(+), A UNIQUE O-N(+) COMPLEX/

A hitherto unknown reaction, the isotope exchange between oxygen and o zone, accompanies formation of the latter upon ionization of O-2 or ai r, a long-known process widely utilized for the production of ozone an d of great relevance to atmospheric chemistry. The isotope exchange wa s demonstrated and its mechanism established by mass spectrometric tec hniques that allowed identification of the charged intermediate, the O -5(+) ion, characterized by the joint application of theoretical and e xperimental methods as truly unique among all known O-n(+) complexes. The results are of interest to atmospheric chemistry, bearing on the p roblem related to the widely different extent of O-18 enrichment of oz one in the stratosphere and in the troposphere.