The reactions of atomic oxygen with phosphorus and with phosphine

Abstract

Abstract A discharge flow system has been used to study the stoichiometry and chemiluminescence of the reaction of atomic oxygen with phosphorus and with phosphine. Visible chemilumi­nescence in both reactions extending down to 3600 Å and ultraviolet emission in the O + PH3 reaction are attributed respectively to the processes O + PO → PO2 and OH + PO → HOPO. Bond energies of these species and the mechanisms of formation of excited PO are discussed. It is deduced that P and PO only play minor roles in the O + P4 reaction and in the chain reaction between phosphorus and oxygen.