Using a radio-frequency ion trap to study ion-molecule reactions under isolated conditions, we report a direct experimental determination of reaction rate constants for the sequential oxidation of iodine anions by ozone at room temperature (300 K). The results are R1: I- + O3 → IO- + O2, k1 = (7 ± 2) × 10-12 cm3 s-1; R2: IO- + O3 → IO2
- + O2, k2 = (10 ± 2) × 10-9 cm3 s-1; R3: IO2
- + O3 → IO3
- + O2, k3 = (16 ± 2) × 10-9 cm3 s-1. More oxidized forms such as IO4
- and IO5
- were not observed. Additionally, we performed quantum chemical calculations to elucidate the energetics of these oxidation reactions.
