Colliding molecules reveal their ‘cone of reaction’
New measurements advance our understanding of chemical reactions at the atomic scale and could shape our ability to optimize them The post Colliding molecules reveal their ‘cone of reaction’ appeared first on Physics World .
A team of researchers from the University of Graz, Austria, has made a significant discovery in the field of chemical reactions by observing the precise geometric conditions required for a successful reaction. By using a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) to project a molecule of difluorocarbene (CF 2 ) onto a target radical (BTFyl) anchored to a copper surface, the researchers were able to control the impact parameter and orientation of the reactants.
Their findings reveal that reactions only occur within a "cone of reaction," defined by the reactants contacting at a specific point and a certain angle. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of chemical reactions at the atomic scale and potentially enable ways to control and optimize these processes.
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