Cold Chemical Reactions of CaH and Li

We have observed cold chemical reactions between ground-state molecular CaH ($^2\Sigma$) and atomic Li ($^2S$) at cryogenic temperatures. The molecules and atoms are created by laser ablation of CaH$_2$ and Li targets, respectively, and cooled by buffer-gas cooling. The densities of the reactants are continuously monitored via laser absorption spectroscopy, and a reaction rate coefficient of $10^{-11}$~cm$^3$~s$^{-1}$ is observed for unpolarized reactants. Progress towards controlling the reaction through polarization of the electron spins will be presented.