Gas-phase inorganic chemistry: monovalent derivatives of calcium and strontium

The chemistry and spectroscopy of monovalent derivatives of calcium and strontium are described. Laser-driven chemical reactions of calcium and strontium vapors with a variety of small molecules have provided many new free radicals. In general, these species are analogous to the stable molecules obtained in traditional inorganic or organometallic chemistry, but some new families of molecules have been discovered.