KINETIC-STUDY OF THE REACTION OF RH(A(4)F(9 2)) WITH N2O, O-2 AND NO/

The gas phase reactivity of Rh(a(4)F(9/2)) with N2O, O-2 and NO is rep orted. Removal rate constants for the excited stares of rhodium below 13,000 cm(-1) are also reported. The reaction rate of Rh(a(4)F(9/2)) w ith N2O is relatively temperature insensitive. The rate constants for the bimolecular reaction are described in Arrhenius form by (1.3 +/- 0 .3) x 10(-12) exp (-1.3 +/- 0.8 kJ/mol/RT) cm(3) s(-1). The reaction r ates of the a(4)F(9/2) stale with O-2 and NO are pressure dependent. F or O-2, the limiting low pressure third-order, k(0), and limiting high -pressure second-order, k(infinity), room temperature rate constants i n argon buffer are (6.6 +/- 0.6) x 10(-30) cm(6) s(-1) and (2.1 +/- 0. 2) x 10(-11) cm(3) s(-1), respectively. For NO, k(0) and k(infinity) a re (1.3 +/- 0.2) x 10(-30) cm(6) s(-1) and (1.2 +/- 0.4) x 10(-11) cm( 3) s(-1), respectively. The removal rates of the excited states are fa ster than the ground state by a factor of 2 or more.