Lifetimes of Hg(³P₀) complexes with methanol, ammonia, and water

Lifetimes of Hg(3P0) complexes were determined by simultaneous observation of Hg(3P0) optical absorption and complex emission, using a modulation technique and phase sensitive detection. The lifetimes of the mercury complexes with methanol, (1.4 ± 0.7) × 10-8 s, and water, ≤ 8 × 10-8 s, were found to be much shorter than reported in earlier work. For the ammonia complex, however a lifetime was measured which is in good agreement with previous determinations. Reasons for the large errors in earlier work where the methanol and water complex lifetimes were determined from complex emission data alone are discussed, and these data are reinterpreted. In the reaction rate of Hg(3P0) with methanol no detectable contribution from the termolecular process Hg(3P0) + 2CH3OH → (Hg·CH3OH)* + CH3OH could be observed. © 1976.