Reactions of H2, D2 with Hg(6 3P0) or Hg(6 3P2) : product rotational state distributions

The initial rotational state distributions of the HgH(v=0) and HgD(v=0) molecules produced in the reactions of Hg(6 3P0) with H2, D2 have been determined. These distributions differ from the ones previously determined with Hg in the 6 3P1 state. This difference may be due to the decrease of the reaction exothermicity when Hg(6 3P1) is replaced by Hg(6 3P0). As for the reaction with Hg(6 3P2), it seems from a time analysis that there is some production of molecules in the higher rotational levels, nevertheless more work is necessary to conclude about the Hg(6 3P2) reactivity.