The energy dependence of the differential scattering of metastable Ar*(3P) by ground-state CO2(X1∑g+) has been studied at relative kinetic energies from 58 to 126 meV over an angular range of 5–160° c.m. using crossed molecular beams. The position and curvature of rainbow maxima, which are observed at each energy, are used to obtain parameters for a Lennard-Jones (12, 6) spherically symmetric potential. The position of the minimum,rm= 5·02 ± 0·65 Å, is identical to that for K + CO2and the well depth, ε = 16·3 ± 0·8 meV, is about 10 per cent greater. The scattered intensity shows a distinct fall-off on the dark side of the rainbow compared to that expected for elastically scattered Ar*. This depletion, caused primarily by the quenching of Ar*, is analysed in terms of the optical-shadow model to determine the energy dependence of the observed quenching cross section, which is predicted to have a maximum of 67 Å2at 193 meV.