Energy resonance in electron transfer from nitric oxide to atomic metal cations at room temperature

Rate coefficients have been measured for the spin-allowed transfer of an electron from NO(X2Π) to Au+(1S), Zn+(2S), Se+(4S), As+(3P) and Hg+(2S) at room temperature using an inductively-coupled plasma/selected-ion flow tube (ICP/SIFT) tandem mass spectrometer. The observed range of a factor of 3 in the corresponding reaction efficiencies can be accounted for qualitatively by invoking energy resonance and Franck-Condon factors in the formation of NO+(X1Σ+, v). The electron transfer to Se+(4S) may leave the neutral Se product atom in an excited Se*(4p4, 3P) state.