Knowledge Bank

Chemiluminescence from molecules of the type $M2X$ has been observed in a molecular beam-scattering gas arrangement from reaction of the metal dimmer with $F2,NF3$, and $Cl2$. The emission extends from approximately 400 nm to the red limit of our detection system (about 750 nm) and consists of two broad. Structureless features. We associate these features with emission from the two bound excited states. Our data also place a lower bound of 100 kcal $mole-1$ on the bond strength of the $M2-X$ bond in the ground state of $M_{2} $X, which may be unstable with respect to $M + $MX. Further attempts to obtain quantitative knowledge of the potentials using a metal nozzle source will be discussed.