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Cover Picture: Experimental Detection of the H 2 NO 3 Radical (ChemPhysChem 10/2003)
Author(s) -
Cacace Fulvio,
de Petris Giulia,
Troiani Anna
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.200390107
Subject(s) - chemistry , hydroxide , protonation , nitration , oxide , radiolysis , nitric acid , ion , mass spectrometry , polyatomic ion , inorganic chemistry , mass spectrum , nitrogen , photochemistry , radical , organic chemistry , chromatography
The cover pictures shows …‥the mass spectrum of nitrogen hydroxide oxide, the H 2 NO 3 . radical, which was discovered by neutralization reionization mass spectrometry (NRMS) and characterized as a relatively long‐lived (over 1 μs) metastable species. The discovery required the availability of the appropriate charged precursor that fortunately had previously been prepared by this group (1989) as a result of their sustained interest in gas‐phase ion chemistry of nitrates, nitrites and related molecules. Cacace et al. found that protonation of nitric acid by strong Brønsted acids yields, in addition to the H 2 ONO 2 + ion, smaller amounts of the less stable (HO) 2 NO + isomer, namely charged nitrogen hydroxide oxide. This result has allowed the present discovery by NRMS (yellow trace), whereas NRMS of the H 2 ONO 2 + ion does not result in detectable H 2 NO 3 . neutral species (green trace). The importance of nitrogen hydroxide oxide stems from its relevance to a variety of research areas, from the reduction of the NO 3 2− anion, to atmospheric chemistry, radiolysis of nuclear‐waste solutions, the charge‐transfer mechanism of aromatic nitration, etc. Find out more in the communication by Cacace et al. on pp. 1128–131.