The use of van der Waals forces to orient chemical reactants: The H+CO2 reaction

Abstract

The 193 nm excitation of the CO2 ⋅ HBr van der Waals complex causes HBr to dissociate rapidly, thereby promoting the endothermic reaction of atomic hydrogen with the adjacent CO2. The reactants are highly oriented by the CO2 ⋅ HBr equilibrium geometry.