Unique chemistry at ice surfaces: Incomplete proton transfer in the H<inf>3</inf>O<sup>+</sup>-NH<inf>3</inf> system

Date Issued
17-04-2001
Author(s)
Park, Seong Chan
Maeng, Kye Won
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
Kang, Heon
DOI
Abstract
Immobile solvated ions such as NH4+·NH3 act as kinetic traps that prevent the proton-transfer reaction between H3O+ and NH3 on ice surfaces at 85-140 K reaching thermodynamic equilibrium. A combination of Cs+ reactive ion scattering and mass spectrometry showed that all species of the reaction (NH3, NH4+, H20, and H30+) coexist on ice. This result indicates that metastable species can be produced and kinetically stabilized on ice surfaces such that they may contribute to the chemistry of stratospheric and interstellar ice particles.
Volume
40
Subjects