Reactive scattering of ions

Abstract Studies of reactive scattering of ions have provided information on collision kinematics of chemical reactions of ions: on microscopic reaction mechanisms, on partitioning of energy in a chemical reaction, and on cross sections of these processes. Reactions can be investigated over a wide range of collision energies and thus the influence of translational energy on the course of a chemical reaction can be studied. Data on ion‐molecule processes are of importance for kinematics of chemical reactions in general. Recent development in theory requires more detailed kinematic information to be obtained from experiments, namely data on CM‐angular distributions, on relative translational energies of products, on internal states of products, and on cross sections and their dependence on collision energy. Valuable kinematic information can be obtained from nonreactive scattering studies and from electronic correlation studies. Experimental techniques and data handling procedures are reviewed. Examples of both direct processes and intermediate complex formation are discussed.