Knowledge Bank

In earlier work LiO and $Li2O$ were produced for infrared study by the reaction of lithium atoms and nitrous oxide molecules at high dilution in nitrogen matrices. Similar experiments have been run using the heavier alkali metals sodium, potassium and rubidium. Oxygen isotopic substitution has verified that $K2O$ and $Rb2O$ were produced. When a dual beam of K and Rb were deposited with $N2O$, an intermediate component appeared which is due to the molecule KORb. No analogous sodium molecules were produced, although several experiments were run. Force constants calculated for $K2O$ and $Rb2O$ agree quite well for near linear triatomic molecules.