A dynamical effect that arises for a process
when the species
A
is light (e.g. a hydrogen atom) compared to
B
and
C
. The vibrational excitation of the product
A–B
is low, since the light atom
A
approaches to within the bonding distance of
BC
before the
C
atom retreats. The energy of reaction is therefore released as repulsion between
A–B
and
C
, with the result that there is translational excitation of the products.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 149
(A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC Recommendations 1996))
on page 171
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A.Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997). XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
doi:10.1351/goldbook.
