反应性的微小锥体

Colliding molecules react only when their orientations and point of impact fall within a narrow range Jonas Björk N ot every collision causes a reaction. Only a small fraction of molecular collisions brings the reactive sites into a favorable arrangement for bond formation. The reactivity of two colliding molecules therefore depends on both the point of impact (impact parameter) and the relative orientation of the reactants. The effect of molecular orientation on reactivity has been probed by manipulating molecules with a stream of atoms or molecules in a vacuum (1, 2). However, examining how the impact parameter influences individual molecular collisions is difficult. On page 417 of this issue, Timm et al. …