NeON+: An Atom and a Molecule

The NeON+ molecule is stable with a Ne + NO+ dissociation energy of 0.90 kcal/mol. While this is small, the two vibrational modes that include the neon atom are less than this barrier at 57.9 and 45.0 cm–1. Hence, this “L”-shaped molecule will not readily vibrate itself apart in cold environments, such as the interstellar medium, where the nitrosylium cation is believed to exist. While the 2359.2 cm–1 N≡O vibrational frequency is only slightly perturbed (but perturbed nonetheless) by the presence of the Ne atom, the other two fundamental vibrational frequencies will be observable in the terahertz region, where future space telescopes may operate. Furthermore, the curiosity of a stable molecule whose constituent atomic symbols spell the name of one such atom give this structure a unique place in the chemical imagination. Hence, “neon” is both a molecule and an atom.