Rate constants of the reactions of O(3P) atoms with Br2 and NO2 over the temperature range 220-950 K

The kinetics of the reactions of Br₂ and NO₂ with ground state oxygen atoms have been studied over a wide temperature range, T = 220-950 K, using a low-pressure flow tube reactor coupled with a quadrupole mass spectrometer: O + NO₂ → NO + O₂ (1) and O + Br₂ → Br + BrO (2). The rate constant of reaction (1) was determined under pseudo–first-order conditions, either monitoring the kinetics of O-atom or NO₂ consumption in excess of NO₂ or of the oxygen atoms, respectively: k₁ = (6.1 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹² exp((155 ± 18)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ (where the uncertainties represent precision at the 2σ level, the estimated total uncertainty on k₁ being 15% at all temperatures). The temperature dependence of k₁, found to be in excellent agreement with multiple previous low-temperature data, was extended to 950 K. The rate constant of reaction (2) determined under pseudo–first-order conditions, monitoring the kinetics of Br₂ consumption in excess of O-atoms, showed upward curvature at low and high temperatures of the study and was fitted with the following three-parameter expression: k₂ = 9.85 × 10⁻¹⁶ T^1.41 exp(543/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at T = (220-950) K, which is recommended from the present study with an independent of temperature conservative uncertainty of 15% on k₂.     

Temperature-dependent rate constants for the reactions of chlorine atom with methanol and Br2

Kinetics of the reaction of Cl atoms with methanol has been investigated at 2 Torr total pressure of helium and over a wide temperature range 225-950 K, using a discharge flow reactor combined with an electron impact ionization quadrupole mass spectrometer. The rate constant of the reaction Cl + CH₃OH → products (1) was determined using both absolute measurements under pseudo-first order conditions, monitoring the kinetics of Cl-atom consumption in excess of methanol and relative rate method, k₁ = (5.1 ± 0.8) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, and was found to be temperature independent over the range T = 225-950 K. The rate constant of the reaction Cl + Br₂ → BrCl + Br (3) was measured in an absolute way monitoring Cl-atom decays in excess of Br₂: k₃ = 1.64 × 10⁻¹⁰ exp(34/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at T = 225-960 K (with conservative 15% uncertainty). The experimental data for k₃ can also be adequately represented by the temperature independent value of k₃ = (1.8 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The kinetic data from the present study are compared with previous measurements.     

Experimental study of the kinetics of reaction of chlorine atoms with tetrahydrofuran and fully deuterated tetrahydrofuran

The overall rate constants for H-abstraction (k_H) from tetrahydrofuran and D-abstraction (k_D) from fully deuterated tetrahydrofuran by chlorine atoms in the temperature range of 298-547 K were determined. In both cases, very weak negative temperature dependences of the overall rate constants were observed, described by the expressions: k_H = (1.55 ± 0.13) × 10⁻¹⁰ exp(52 ± 28/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k_D = (1.27 ± 0.25) × 10⁻¹⁰exp(55 ± 62/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The experimental results show that the value of the kinetic isotope effect (k_H/k_D), amounting to 1.21 ± 0.10, is temperature independent at 298-547 K.     

Rate coefficients for reactions of OH radicals with CH3D,CH2D2, CHD3, and CD4

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) smog chamber techniques were used to investigate the atmospheric chemistry of the isotopologues of methane. Relative rate measurements were performed to determine the kinetics of the reaction of the isotopologues of methane with OH radicals in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ units: k(CH₃D + OH) = (5.19 ± 0.90) × 10⁻¹⁵, k(CH₂D₂ + OH) = (4.11 ± 0.74) × 10⁻¹⁵, k(CHD₃ + OH) = (2.14 ± 0.43) × 10⁻¹⁵, and k(CD₄ + OH) = (1.17 ± 0.19) × 10⁻¹⁵ in 700 Torr of air diluent at 296 ± 2 K. Using the determined OH rate coefficients, the atmospheric lifetimes for CH_4–xD_x (x = 1–4) were estimated to be 6.1, 7.7, 14.8, and 27.0 years, respectively. The results are discussed in relation to previous measurements of these rate coefficients.     

Temperature dependent rate constant for the reaction of H-atoms with carbonyl sulfide

The kinetics of the reaction of H-atom with carbonyl sulfide (OCS) has been investigated at nearly 2 Torr total pressure of helium over a wide temperature range, T = 255–960 K, using a low-pressure discharge flow reactor combined with an electron impact ionization quadrupole mass spectrometer. The rate constant of the reaction H + OCS → SH + CO (1) was determined under pseudo-first order conditions, monitoring the kinetics of H-atom consumption in excess of OCS, k₁ = 6.6 × 10⁻¹³ × (T/298)³ × exp(−1150/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ (with estimated total uncertainty on k₁ of 15% at all temperatures). Current measurements of k₁ at intermediate temperatures (520–960 K) appear to reconcile previous high and low temperature data and allow the above expression for k₁ to be recommended for use in the extended temperature range between 255 and 1830 K with a conservative uncertainty of 20%.     

Chemistry of NOx and HNO3 Molecules with Gas-Phase Hydrated O.− and OH− Ions

The gas-phase reactions of O ^{. −}(H₂O)_n and OH⁻(H₂O)_n, n=20–38, with nitrogen-containing atmospherically relevant molecules, namely NO_x and HNO₃, are studied by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry and theoretically with the use of DFT calculations. Hydrated O ^{. −} anions oxidize NO ^. and NO₂ ^. to NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻ through a strongly exothermic reaction with enthalpy of −263±47 kJ mol⁻¹ and −286±42 kJ mol⁻¹, indicating a covalent bond formation. Comparison of the rate coefficients with collision models shows that the reactions are kinetically slow with 3.3 and 6.5 % collision efficiency. Reactions between hydrated OH⁻ anions and nitric oxides were not observed in the present experiment and are most likely thermodynamically hindered. In contrast, both hydrated anions are reactive toward HNO₃ through proton transfer from nitric acid, yielding hydrated NO₃⁻. Although HNO₃ is efficiently picked-up by the water clusters, forming (HNO₃)_0–2(H₂O)_mNO₃⁻ clusters, the overall kinetics of nitrate formation are slow and correspond to an efficiency below 10 %. Combination of the measured reaction thermochemistry with literature values in thermochemical cycles yields ΔH_f(O⁻(aq.))=48±42 kJ mol⁻¹ and ΔH_f(NO₂⁻(aq.))=−125±63 kJ mol⁻¹.     

A temperature dependence study of the gas-phase reaction of the nitrate radical with 3-fluoropropene followed by laser induced fluorescence detection

Absolute rate coefficient for the gas-phase reaction of NO₃ with 3-fluoropropene has been measured using the discharge-flow technique coupled to a LIF detection system for a range of temperatures from 296 K to 430 K. The measured room temperature rate constant is (0.39 ± 0.02) × 10⁻¹⁴ molecule⁻¹ cm³ s⁻¹. The Arrhenius expression k = (7.17 ± 3.34) × 10⁻¹² exp[−(2248 ± 169)/T] is proposed for the reaction. The reactivity of alkenes containing halogen atoms is discussed and compared to that of simple alkenes, on the basis of the correlations between the reactivity against NO₃ and the ionization potential of the alkenes. Tropospheric half life of 3-fluoropropene has been estimated at night and during daytime for typical NO₃ and OH trophospheric concentrations. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 29: 927–932, 1997.     

Temperature dependence of the gas-phase reactions F+CHFO,CFO+F,and CFO+CFO

The rate coefficients for the reactions CHFO+F, CFO+F and the self-reaction of CFO were determined over the temperature range of 222–298 K. A computer controlled discharge-flow system with mass spectrometric detection was used. The results are expressed in the Arrhenius form (with energies in J): CHFO+F→CFO+HF: _k1(_T)=(9.7±0.7)·10⁻¹² exp[−(5940±150)/RT] cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ CFO+F+M→CF₂O+M: FORMULA DISC=“MATH”>_k2(_T)=(2.60±1.17)·10⁻¹⁰ exp[−(10110±1250)/RT cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹FORMULA CFO+CFO→CF₂O+CO: _k3(_T)=(3.77±2.7)·10⁻¹⁰ exp[−(8350±2800)/RT] cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 329–333, 1998     

Kinetics and Products of the Reactions of F2 with Br‐Atom and Br2

Reactions of F₂ molecules exhibit unusual features, manifesting in high reactivity of F₂ with respect to some closed‐shell molecules and low reactivity toward chemically active species, such as halogen and oxygen atoms. The existing data base on the reactions of F₂ being rather sparse, kinetic and mechanistic studies (preferably over a wide temperature range) are needed to better understand the nature of the specific reactivity of fluorine molecule. In the present work, reactions of F₂ with Br atoms and Br₂ have been studied for the first time in an extended temperature range using a discharge flow reactor combined with an electron impact ionization mass spectrometer. The rate constant of the reaction F₂ + Br → F +BrF (1) was determined either from kinetics of the reaction product, BrF, formation or from the kinetics of Br consumption in excess of F₂: k₁ = (4.66 ± 0.93) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−(4584 ± 86)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at T = 300–940 K. The rate constant of the reaction F₂ + Br₂ → products (2), k₂ = (9.23 ± 2.68) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−(8373 ± 194)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, was determined in the temperature range 500–958 K by monitoring both reaction product (FBr) formation and F₂ consumption kinetics in excess of Br₂. The results of the experimental measurements of the yield of FBr (1.02 ± 0.07 at T = 960 K) combined with thermochemical calculations indicate that F+Br₂F forming channel of reaction (2) is probably the dominant one, at least, at highest temperature of the study.     

Kinetics and mechanism of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) digestion by the UV/O3 process

In this study, the kinetics and mechanism of UV/O₃ synergistic oxidative digestion of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) were investigated, focusing on the ozone direct oxidation and hydroxyl radical oxidation parts of glufosinate and triphenyl phosphate (TPhP). The p-chlorobenzoic acid (p-CBA) was selected as the probe compound, and two kinds of reaction kinetic models were proposed by competitive kinetic method with R_ct according to the different scale of rate constants of hydroxyl radical oxidation. Under the condition of weakly alkaline (pH = 9.0) and weakly acidic environment (pH = 5.0), the second-order rate constants of glufosinate and TPhP was determined indirectly to be ko_{3/glufosinate} = (2.903 ± 0.247)M⁻¹s⁻¹ and ko_3/TPhP = (3.307 ± 0.204) M⁻¹s⁻¹ by ozone direct oxidation, and k_{·OH/glufosinate} = (1.257 ± 1.031) × 10⁹ M⁻¹s⁻¹ and k_·OH/TPhP = (7.120 × 10⁸ ± 0.963) M⁻¹s⁻¹ by hydroxyl radical oxidation, respectively. The comparison of the contribution levels of the two parts to the digestion process showed that the contribution levels in the digestion of glufosinate and TPhP processes both the contribution of ·OH were higher than those of ozone, 86.3% and 72.6%, respectively.     

Rate coefficients for the reaction of OH with Cl2, Br2, and I2 from 235 to 354 K

Rate coefficients for the reaction of OH with Cl₂, (k₁), Br₂, (k₂) and I₂, (k₃), were measured under pseudo‐first‐order conditions in OH. OH was produced by pulsed laser photolysis of H₂O₂ (or HNO₃) and its temporal profile was monitored by laser‐induced fluorescence. The measured rate coefficients for k₁ (231–354 K) and k₂ (235–357 K) are: k₁ (T) = (3.77 ± 1.02) × 10⁻¹² exp[−(1228 ± 140)/T] cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k₂ (T) = (1.98 ± 0.51) × 10⁻¹¹ exp[(238 ± 70)/T] cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k₃ was independent of temperature between 240 and 348 K with an average value of (2.10 ± 0.60) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The quoted uncertainties are 2σ (95% confidence limits, 1σ_A = Aσ_lnA) and include estimated systematic errors. Our measurements significantly im‐prove the accuracy of k₁. This is the first report of a slight negative temperature dependence for k₂ and of the temperature independence of k₃. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.* Int J Chem Kinet 31: 417–424, 1999     

Atmospheric chemistry of acetone: Kinetic study of the CH3C(O)CH2O2+NO/NO2 reactions and decomposition of CH3C(O)CH2O2NO2

Pulse radiolysis was used to study the kinetics of the reactions of CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂ radicals with NO and NO₂ at 295 K. By monitoring the rate of formation and decay of NO₂ using its absorption at 400 and 450 nm the rate constants k(CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂+NO)=(8±2)×10⁻¹² and k(CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂+NO₂)=(6.4±0.6)×10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ were determined. Long path length Fourier transform infrared spectrometers were used to investigate the IR spectrum and thermal stability of the peroxynitrate, CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂NO₂. A value of k₋₆≈3 s⁻¹ was determined for the rate of thermal decomposition of CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂NO₂ in 700 torr total pressure of O₂ diluent at 295 K. When combined with lower temperature studies (250–275 K) a decomposition rate of k₋₆=1.9×10¹⁶ exp (−10830/T) s⁻¹ is determined. Density functional theory was used to calculate the IR spectrum of CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂NO₂. Finally, the rate constants for reactions of the CH₃C(O)CH₂ radical with NO and NO₂ were determined to be k(CH₃C(O)CH₂+NO)=(2.6±0.3)×10⁻¹¹ and k(CH₃C(O)CH₂+NO₂)=(1.6±0.4)×10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The results are discussed in the context of the atmospheric chemistry of acetone and the long range atmospheric transport of NO_x. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 30: 475–489, 1998     

A Photoprotective Effect by Cation-π-Interaction? Quenching of Singlet Oxygen by an Indole Cation-π Model System

We investigated the effect of the cation-π interaction on the susceptibility of a tryptophan model system toward interaction with singlet oxygen, that is, type II photooxidation. The model system consists of two indole units linked to a lariat crown ether to measure the total rate of removal of singlet oxygen by the indole units in the presence of sodium cations (i.e. indole units subject to a cation-π interaction) and in the absence of this interaction. We found that the cation-π interaction significantly decreases the total rate of removal of singlet oxygen (k_T) for the model system, that is, (k_T = 2.4 ± 0.2) × 10⁸ m ⁻¹ s⁻¹ without sodium cation vs (k_T = 6.9 ± 0.9) × 10⁷ m ⁻¹ s⁻¹ upon complexation of sodium cation to the crown ether. Furthermore, we found that the indole moieties undergo type I photooxidation processes with triplet excited methylene blue; this effect is also inhibited by the cation-π interaction. The chemical rate of reaction of the indole groups with singlet oxygen is also slower upon complexation of sodium cation in our model system, although we were unable to obtain an exact ratio due to differences of the chemical reaction rates of the two indole moieties.     

Kinetics of reduction of hexavalent neptunium by nitrous acid in solutions of nitric acid

Nitrous acid is a key redox controlling factor, affecting the speciation of neptunium in the reprocessing of used nuclear fuel by solvent extraction. The kinetics of the reduction of neptunium(VI) by nitrous acid in solutions of nitric acid was investigated spectrophotometrically by the method of initial rates. The reaction is of first order with respect to Np(VI) while the order with respect to HNO₂ is 1.20 ± 0.04. The reaction rate is almost inversely proportional to the hydrogen ion concentration (reaction order −0.92 ± 0.06), indicating that the reaction proceeds primarily through the reaction of neptunium(VI) with the nitrate anion. The experimental value of the rate constant k for the rate law −d[Np(VI)]/dt = k·[Np(VI)]·[HNO₂]^1.2/[H⁺] is of (0.159 ± 0.014) M^−0.2 s⁻¹ in I = 4 M and at 20 °C. The activation energy is (−57.3 ± 1.6) kJ/mol, which is in agreement with previous data on this reaction in perchloric acid.     

Rate constant for the reaction of F-atoms with trichloroacetic acid

Kinetics of the reaction of F-atoms with trichloroacetic acid was studied at 293 K using a low-pressure flow reactor. Reactant concentrations were monitored by mass spectrometry combined with molecular beam sampling. The reaction rate constant obtained was k = (4.3 ± 0.8) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. This is an average value determined by the relative method employing four reference reactions of F-atoms: with 1,1,1-trichloroethane, ethanol, cyclohexane, and 2-fluoroethanol, for which rate constant ratios k/k_ref = 7.4 ± 1.2, 0.24 ± 0.02, 0.28 ± 0.02, and 0.34 ± 0.04, respectively, were obtained. The resultant rate constant is compared with the rate constants for the related fluoro-substituted acids.     

Kinetics of the gas‐phase reactions of Cl atom with selected C2–C5 unsaturated hydrocarbons at 283 < T < 323 K

The reaction of Cl atoms with a series of C₂–C₅ unsaturated hydrocarbons has been investigated at atmospheric pressure of 760 Torr over the temperature range 283–323 K in air and N₂ diluents. The decay of the hydrocarbons was followed using a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector (GC‐FID), and the kinetic constants were determined using a relative rate technique with n‐hexane as a reference compound. The Cl atoms were generated by UV photolysis (λ ≥ 300 nm) of Cl₂ molecules. The following absolute rate constants (in units of 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, with errors representing ±2σ) for the reaction at 295 ± 2 K have been derived from the relative rate constants combined to the value 34.5 × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for the Cl + n‐hexane reaction: ethene (9.3 ± 0.6), propyne (22.1 ± 0.3), propene (27.6 ± 0.6), 1‐butene (35.2 ± 0.7), and 1‐pentene (48.3 ± 0.8). The temperature dependence of the reactions can be expressed as simple Arrhenius expressions (in units of 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹): k_ethene = (0.39 ± 0.22) × 10⁻¹¹ exp{(226 ± 42)/T}, k_propyne = (4.1 ± 2.5) × 10⁻¹¹ exp{(118 ± 45)/T}, k_propene = (1.6 ± 1.8) × 10⁻¹¹ exp{(203 ± 79)/T}, k_1‐butene = (1.1 ± 1.3) × 10⁻¹¹ exp{(245 ± 90)/T}, and k_1‐pentene = (4.0 ± 2.2) × 10⁻¹¹ exp{(423 ± 68)/T}. The applicability of our results to tropospheric chemistry is discussed. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 478–484, 2000     

Gas‐phase rate coefficients for a series of alkyl cyclohexanes with OH radicals and Cl atoms

The rate coefficients of the reactions of OH radicals and Cl atoms with three alkylcyclohexanes compounds, methylcyclohexane (MCH), trans‐1,4‐dimethylcyclohexane (DCH), and ethylcyclohexane (ECH) have been investigated at (293 ± 1) K and 1000 mbar of air using relative rate methods. A majority of the experiments were performed in the Highly Instrumented Reactor for Atmospheric Chemistry (HIRAC), a stainless steel chamber using in situ FTIR analysis and online gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC‐FID) detection to monitor the decay of the alkylcyclohexanes and the reference compounds. The studies were undertaken to provide kinetic data for calibrations of radical detection techniques in HIRAC. The following rate coefficients (in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) were obtained for Cl reactions: k_(Cl+MCH) = (3.51 ± 0.37) × 10^–10, k_(Cl+DCH) = (3.63 ± 0.38) × 10⁻¹⁰, k_(Cl+ECH) = (3.88 ± 0.41) × 10⁻¹⁰, and for the reactions with OH radicals: k_(OH+MCH) = (9.5 ± 1.3) × 10^–12, k_(OH+DCH) = (12.1 ± 2.2) × 10⁻¹², k_(OH+ECH) = (11.8 ± 2.0) × 10⁻¹². Errors are a combination of statistical errors in the relative rate ratio (2σ) and the error in the reference rate coefficient. Checks for possible systematic errors were made by the use of two reference compounds, two different measurement techniques, and also three different sources of OH were employed in this study: photolysis of CH₃ONO with black lamps, photolysis of H₂O₂ at 254 nm, and nonphotolytic trans‐2‐butene ozonolysis. For DCH, some direct laser flash photolysis studies were also undertaken, producing results in good agreement with the relative rate measurements. Additionally, temperature‐dependent rate coefficient investigations were performed for the reaction of methylcyclohexane with the OH radical over the range 273‐343 K using the relative rate method; the resulting recommended Arrhenius expression is k_{(OH + MCH)} = (1.85 ± 0.27) × 10^–11 exp((–1.62 ± 0.16) kJ mol⁻¹/RT) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The kinetic data are discussed in terms of OH and Cl reactivity trends, and comparisons are made with the existing literature values and with rate coefficients from structure‐activity relationship methods. This is the first study on the rate coefficient determination of the reaction of ECH with OH radicals and chlorine atoms, respectively.     

Rate coefficients for the gas-phase OH + furan (C4H4O) reaction between 273 and 353 K

Rate coefficients, k₁, for the gas-phase OH radical reaction with the heterocyclic ether C₄H₄O (1,4-epoxybuta-1,3-diene, furan) were measured over the temperature range 273–353 K at 760 Torr (syn. air). Experiments were performed using: (i) the photochemical smog chamber THALAMOS (thermally regulated atmospheric simulation chamber, IMT NE, Douai-France) equipped with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS) detection methods and (ii) a photochemical reactor coupled with FTIR spectroscopy (PCR, University of Crete, Greece). k₁(273–353 K) was measured using a relative rate (RR) method, in which the loss of furan was measured relative to the loss of reference compounds with well-established OH reaction rate coefficients. k₁(273–353 K) was found to be well represented by the Arrhenius expression (1.30 ± 0.12) × 10⁻¹¹ exp[(336 ± 20)/T] cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, with k₁(296 K) measured to be (4.07 ± 0.32) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The k₁(296 K) and pre-exponential quoted error limits are 2σ and include estimated systematic errors in the reference rate coefficients. The observed negative temperature dependence is consistent with a reaction mechanism involving the OH radical association to a furan double bond. Quantum mechanical molecular calculations show that OH addition to the α-carbon (ΔH_r(296 K) = −121.5 kJ mol⁻¹) is thermochemically favored over the β-carbon (ΔH_r(296 K) = −52.9 kJ mol⁻¹) addition. The OH-furan adduct was found to be stable over the temperature range of the present measurements. Maleic anhydride (C₄H₂O₃) was identified as a minor reaction product, 3% lower-limit yield, demonstrating a non-ring-opening active reaction channel. The present results are critically compared with results from previous studies of the OH + furan reaction rate coefficient. The infrared spectrum of furan was measured as part of this study and its estimated climate metrics are reported.     

Kinetic study of the reactions Br + IBr→I + Br2 and I + Br2→Br + IBr

The kinetics of the title reactions have been studied using the discharge-flow mass spectrometic method at 296 K and 1 torr of helium. The rate constant obtained for the forward reaction Br+IBr→I+Br₂ (1), using three different experimental approaches (kinetics of Br consumption in excess of IBr, IBr consumption in excess of Br, and I formation), is: k₁=(2.7±0.4)×10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹s⁻¹. The rate constant of the reverse reaction: I+Br₂→Br+IBr (−1) has been obtained from the Br₂ consumption rate (with an excess of I atoms) and the IBr formation rate: k₋₁=(1.65±0.2)×10⁻¹³ cm³molecule⁻¹s⁻¹. The equilibrium constant for the reactions (1,−1), resulting from these direct determinations of k₁ and k₋₁ and, also, from the measurements of the equilibrium concentrations of Br, IBr, I, and Br₂, is: K₁=k₁/k₋₁=161.2±19.7. These data have been used to determine the enthalpy of reaction (1), ΔH₂₉₈°=−(3.6±0.1) kcal mol⁻¹ and the heat of formation of the IBr molecule, ΔH_f,298°(IBr)=(9.8±0.1) kcal mol⁻¹. © 1998 John Wiley & sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 933–940, 1998     

Experimental determination of the rate constants of the reactions of HO2 + DO2 and DO2 + DO2

The rate constants of the reactions of DO₂ + HO₂ (R1) and DO₂ + DO₂ (R2) have been determined by the simultaneous, selective, and quantitative measurement of HO₂ and DO₂ by continuous wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy (cw-CRDS) in the near infrared, coupled to a radical generation by laser photolysis. HO₂ was generated by photolyzing Cl₂ in the presence of CH₃OH and O₂. Low concentrations of DO₂ were generated simultaneously by adding low concentrations of D₂O to the reaction mixture, leading through isotopic exchange on tubing and reactor walls to formation of low concentrations of CH₃OD and thus formation of DO₂. Excess DO₂ was generated by photolyzing Cl₂ in the presence of CD₃OD and O₂, small concentrations of HO₂ were always generated simultaneously by isotopic exchange between CD₃OD and residual H₂O. The rate constant k₁ at 295 K was found to be pressure independent in the range 25–200 Torr helium, but increased with increasing D₂O concentration k₁ = (1.67 ± 0.03) × 10⁻¹² × (1 + (8.2 ± 1.6) × 10⁻¹⁸ cm³ × [D₂O] cm⁻³) cm³ s⁻¹. The rate constant for the DO₂ self-reaction k₂ has been measured under excess DO₂ concentration, and the DO₂ concentration has been determined by fitting the HO₂ decays, now governed by their reaction with DO₂, to the rate constant k₁. A rate constant with insignificant pressure dependence was found: k₂ = (4.1 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹³ (1 + (2 ± 2) × 10⁻²⁰ cm³ × [He] cm⁻³) cm³ s⁻¹ as well as an increase of k₂ with increasing D₂O concentration was observed: k₂ = (4.14 ± 0.02) × 10⁻¹³ × (1 + (6.5 ± 1.3) × 10⁻¹⁸ cm³ × [D₂O] cm⁻³) cm³ s⁻¹. The result for k₂ is in excellent agreement with literature values, whereas this is the first determination of k₁.