The method of time-resolved laser magnetic resonance (LMR) was used to stud
y the deactivation of O(D-1) by HCl, DCl, HF, and DF at room temperature. F
or O(D-1) + XF(X = H, D), the effect of deuteration on the rates of physica
l quenching and chemical reaction was negligible. For O(D-1) + XCl, no esse
ntial isotope effect on the deactivation rate, on the Cl + OX reaction chan
nel probability, and on the relative quantum yields of spin-orbit excited C
l(P-2(1/2)) atoms was found. While the formation of H + ClO is found to acc
ount for 0.18 +/- 0.04 of the deactivation rate, in the deuterated case thi
s channel was negligible (< 0.03). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All right
s reserved.