The photochemistry of sulfur dioxide excited within its first allowed band (3130 Å) and the “forbidden” band (3700–;4000 Å)

The quantum yields of SO₃ formation have been determined in pure SO₂ and in SO₂ mixtures with NO, CO₂, and O₂ using both flow and static systems. In separate series of experiments excitation of SO₂ was effected within the forbidden band, SO₂(³B₁) ← \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}$$ {\rm SO}_2 (\tilde X,^1 A_1 ) $$ , and within the first allowed singlet band at 3130 Å. The values of Φ were found to be sensitive to the flow rate of the reactants. These results and the apparently divergent quantum yield results of Cox [10], Allen and coworkers [24, 26, 29], and Okuda and coworkers [11] were rationalized quantitatively in terms of the significant occurrence of the reactions SO + SO₃ → 2SO₂ (2), and 2SO → SO₂ + S [or (SO)₂] (3), in experiments of long residence time. From the present rate data, values of the rate constants were estimated, k₂=(1.2±0.7) × 10⁶; k₃=(5±4) × 10⁵ l˙/mole · sec. Φ values from triplet excitation experiments at high flow rates of NOSO₂ and CO₂SO₂ mixtures showed the sole reactant with SO₂ leading to SO₃ formation in this system to be SO₂(³B₁); SO₂(³B₁) + SO₂ → SO₃ + SO(³Σ⁻) (la); k=(4.2±0.4) × 10⁷ l./mole · sec. With excitation of SO₂ at 3130 Å both singlet and triplet excited states play a role in SO₃ formation. If the reactive singlet state is ¹B₁, the long‐lived fluorescent state, SO₂(¹B₁) + SO₂ → SO₃ + SO (¹ Δ or ³Σ⁻) (lb), then k=(2.2±0.5) × 10⁹ l./mole · sec. From the observed inhibition of SO formation by added nitric oxide, it was found that the SO₃‐forming triplet state, generated in this singlet excited SO₂ system, had a relative reactivity toward SO₂ and NO which was equal within the experimental error to that observed here for the SO₂(³B₁) species. Either SO₂(³B₁) molecules were created with an unexpectedly high efficiency in 3130 Å excited SO₂(¹B₁) quenching collisions, or another reactive triplet (presumably ³A₂ or ³B₂) of almost identical reactivity to SO₂(³B₁) was important here.