Rate constant for the reaction C2H5 + HBr → C2H6 + Br

RRKM theory has been employed to analyze the kinetics of the title reaction, in particular, the once-controversial negative activation energy. Stationary points along the reaction coordinate were characterized with coupled cluster theory combined with basis set extrapolation to the complete basis set limit. A shallow minimum, bound by 9.7 kJ?mol(-1) relative to C(2)H(5) + HBr, was located, with a very small energy barrier to dissociation to Br + C(2)H(6). The transition state is tight compared to the adduct. The influence of vibrational anharmonicity on the kinetics and thermochemistry of the title reaction were explored quantitatively. With adjustment of the adduct binding energy by ～4 kJ?mol(-1), the computed rate constants may be brought into agreement with most experimental data in the literature, including new room-temperature results described here. There are indications that at temperatures above those studied experimentally, the activation energy may switch from negative to positive.     

New ab initio potential energy surface for BrH2 and rate constants for the H + HBr → H2 + Br abstraction reaction

A global potential energy surface (PES) for the electronic ground state of the BrH(2) system was constructed based on the multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) method including the Davidson's correction using a large basis set. In addition, the spin-orbit correction were computed using the Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian and the unperturbed MRCI wavefunctions in the Br + H(2) channel and the transition state region. Adding the correction to the ground state potential, the lowest spin-orbit correlated adiabatic potential was obtained. The characters of the new potential are discussed. Accurate initial state specified rate constants for the H + HBr → H(2) + Br abstraction reaction were calculated using a time-dependent wave packet method. The predicted rate constants were found to be in excellent agreement with the available experimental values and much better than those obtained from a previous PES.     

Capture and dissociation in the complex-forming CH + H2 → CH2 + H, CH + H2 reactions

The rate coefficients for the capture process CH + H(2)→ CH(3) and the reactions CH + H(2)→ CH(2) + H (abstraction), CH + H(2) (exchange) have been calculated in the 200-800 K temperature range, using the quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) method and the most recent global potential energy surface. The reactions, which are of interest in combustion and in astrochemistry, proceed via the formation of long-lived CH(3) collision complexes, and the three H atoms become equivalent. QCT rate coefficients for capture are in quite good agreement with experiments. However, an important zero point energy (ZPE) leakage problem occurs in the QCT calculations for the abstraction, exchange and inelastic exit channels. To account for this issue, a pragmatic but accurate approach has been applied, leading to a good agreement with experimental abstraction rate coefficients. Exchange rate coefficients have also been calculated using this approach. Finally, calculations employing QCT capture/phase space theory (PST) models have been carried out, leading to similar values for the abstraction rate coefficients as the QCT and previous quantum mechanical capture/PST methods. This suggests that QCT capture/PST models are a good alternative to the QCT method for this and similar systems.     

The Curl–Divergence equations for the electronic non-adiabatic coupling terms: study of the C2H molecule and the H2+H system

This Letter is part of an effort to use the Curl equations to calculate non-adiabatic coupling terms, subject to ab initio boundary conditions. As examples we consider two-state, planar, systems characterized by two coordinates, θ and q and treat the corresponding non-adiabatic coupling terms, namely, τ_θ(q,θ) and τ_q(q,θ). The theory, which yields τ_q(q,θ) once τ_θ(q,θ) is given, is applied to three cases: an analytical model and two ab initio treatments – one for the C₂H molecule and one for the H+H₂ molecular system. In all three cases encouraging agreements were obtained between the theoretical τ_q(q,θ) values and the ab initio ones.     

Quantum instanton calculation of rate constants for the C2H6 + H → C2H5 + H2 reaction: anharmonicity and kinetic isotope effects

Thermal rate constants and kinetic isotope effects for the title reaction are calculated by using the quantum instanton approximation within the full dimensional Cartesian coordinates. The obtained results are in good agreement with experimental measurements at high temperatures. The detailed investigation reveals that the anharmonicity of the hindered internal rotation motion does not influence the rate too much compared to its harmonic oscillator approximation. However, the motion of the nonreactive methyl group in C(2)H(6) significantly enhances the rates compared to its rigid case, which makes conventional reduced-dimensionality calculations a challenge. In addition, the temperature dependence of kinetic isotope effects is also revealed.     

Ab initio potential energy surface and quantum dynamics for the H + CH4 → H2 + CH3 reaction

A new full-dimensional potential energy surface for the title reaction has been constructed using the modified Shepard interpolation scheme. Energies and derivatives were calculated using the UCCSD(T) method with aug-cc-pVTZ and 6-311++G(3df,2pd) basis sets, respectively. A total number of 30,000 data points were selected from a huge number of molecular configurations sampled by trajectory method. Quantum dynamical calculations showed that the potential energy surface is well converged for the number of data points for collision energy up to 2.5 eV. Total reaction probabilities and integral cross sections were calculated on the present surface, as well as on the ZBB3 and EG-2008 surfaces for the title reaction. Satisfactory agreements were achieved between the present and the ZBB3 potential energy surfaces, indicating we are approaching the final stage to obtain a global potential energy surface of quantitative accuracy for this benchmark polyatomic system. Our calculations also showed that the EG-2008 surface is less accurate than the present and ZBB3 surfaces, particularly in high energy region.     

Comment on the possible role of the reaction H+H2O→H2+OH in the radiolysis of water at high temperatures

In a recent paper (Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 2005, vol. 74, pp. 210) it was suggested that the anomalous increase of molecular hydrogen radiolysis yields observed in high-temperature water is explained by a high activation energy for the reaction H+H₂O→H₂+OH. In this comment we present thermodynamic arguments to demonstrate that this reaction cannot be as fast as suggested. A best estimate for the rate constant is 2.2×10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 300 °C. Central to this argument is an estimate of the OH radical hydration free energy vs. temperature, ΔG_hyd(OH)=0.0278t−18.4 kJ/mole (t in °C, equidensity standard states), which is based on analogy with the hydration free energy of water and of hydrogen peroxide.     

Calculated energy barriers for the identity SN2 reaction H2O + CH3OH2+ → +H2OCH3 + OH2 in the gas phase,in water clusters,and in aqueous solution

The bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction H₂O + CH₃OH₂⁺ → ⁺H₂OCH₃ + OH₂ has been studied using various quantum chemical methods. Accurate barriers for the reaction in the gas phase are presented and discussed. The effect of microsolvation by water molecules in small clusters has been investigated. Extrapolation of the barrier obtained in the small clusters, using a linear relationship between the activation energy and the proton affinity of water clusters, gives a barrier for the reaction in aqueous solution which is in good agreement with that obtained in separate model calculations (polarized continuum model of a super molecule with the first solvation shell included).     

Theoretical determination of the rate coefficient for the HO2 + HO2 → H2O2+O2 reaction: adiabatic treatment of anharmonic torsional effects

The HO(2) + HO(2) → H(2)O(2) + O(2) chemical reaction is studied using statistical rate theory in conjunction with high level ab initio electronic structure calculations. A new theoretical rate coefficient is generated that is appropriate for both high and low temperature regimes. The transition state region for the ground triplet potential energy surface is characterized using the CASPT2/CBS/aug-cc-pVTZ method with 14 active electrons and 10 active orbitals. The reaction is found to proceed through an intermediate complex bound by approximately 9.79 kcal/mol. There is no potential barrier in the entrance channel, although the free energy barrier was determined using a large Monte Carlo sampling of the HO(2) orientations. The inner (tight) transition state lies below the entrance threshold. It is found that this inner transition state exhibits two saddle points corresponding to torsional conformations of the complex. A unified treatment based on vibrational adiabatic theory is presented that permits the reaction to occur on an equal footing for any value of the torsional angle. The quantum tunneling is also reformulated based on this new approach. The rate coefficient obtained is in good agreement with low temperature experimental results but is significantly lower than the results of shock tube experiments for high temperatures.     

Reply to comment on the possible role of the reaction H+H2O→H2+OH in the radiolysis of water at high temperatures

In reply to “Comment on the possible role of reaction H+H₂O→H₂+OH in the radiolysis of water at high temperatures” (Bartels, 2009 Comment on the possible role of the reaction H+H₂O→H₂+OH in the radiolysis of water at high temperatures. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 78, 191–194) we present an alternative thermodynamic estimation of the reaction rate constant k. Based on the non-symmetric standard state convention we have calculated that the Gibbs energy of reaction Δ_rG=57.26 kJ mol^?1 and the reaction rate constant k=7.23×10^?5 M^?1 s^?1 at ambient temperature. Re-analysis of the thermodynamic estimation (Bartels, 2009 Comment on the possible role of the reaction H+H₂O→H₂+OH in the radiolysis of water at high temperatures. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 78, 191–194) showed that the upper limit for the rate constant at 573 K is k=1.75×10⁴ M^?1 s^?1 compared to the value predicted by the diffusion-kinetic modelling (3.18±1.25)×10⁴ M^?1 s^?1 (Swiatla-Wojcik, D., Buxton, G.V., 2005. On the possible role of the reaction H+H₂O→H₂+OH in the radiolysis of water at high temperatures. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 74(3–4), 210–219). The presented thermodynamic evaluation of k(573) is based on the assumption that k can be calculated from Δ_rG and the rate constant of the reverse reaction which, as discussed, are both uncertain at high temperatures.     

Activity Coefficients for the System HCl +GaCl3 + H2O from 5 to 55°C

Activity coefficients for HCl in HCl + GaCl₃ + H₂O at eleven different temperatures from 5 to 55°C have been determined at total experimental ionic strengths from 0.01 to 3.0 mol-kg^–1 using a cell of the type: Pt; H₂(g, 1 atm)|HCl (m_A) + GaCl₃(m_B)|AgCl, Ag (A) The results for the 770 experimental emf data points have been used to determine the variation of the activity coefficients of HCl with the change in molality of GaCl₃ in the solution. It is found that the linear form of Harned's rule is not obeyed for this system.     

Communication: a chemically accurate global potential energy surface for the HO + CO → H + CO2 reaction

We report a chemically accurate global potential energy surface for the HOCO system based on high-level ab initio calculations at ~35,000 points. The potential energy surface is shown to reproduce important stationary points and minimum energy paths. Quasi-classical trajectory calculations indicated a good agreement with experimental data.     

Mean potential statistical theory of the H+ + D2 → HD + D+ reaction

The reactive collision process H(+) + D(2)(ν = 0, j = 0) → HD + D(+) is theoretically analyzed for collision energies ranging from threshold up to 1.3 eV. It is assumed that the reaction takes place via formation of a collision complex. In calculations, a statistical theory is used, based on a mean isotropic potential deduced from a full potential energy surface. Calculated integral cross sections, opacity functions, and rotational distributions of the HD products are compared with recent statistical and quantum mechanical calculations performed using a full potential energy surface. Satisfactory agreement between the results obtained using the two statistical methods is found, both of which however overestimate the existing quantum mechanical predictions. The effects due to the presence of identical particles are also discussed.     

A theoretical study of the H2SO4+H2O → HSO4 −+H3O+ reaction at the surface of aqueous aerosols

The surface region of sulfate aerosols (supercooled aqueous concentrated sulfuric acid solutions) is the likely site of a number of important heterogeneous reactions in various locations in the atmosphere, but the surface region ionic composition is not known. As a first step in exploring this issue, the first acid ionization reaction for sulfuric acid, H₂SO₄ + H₂O HSO₄^– + H₃O⁺, is studied via electronic structure calculations at the Hartree–Fock level on an H₂SO₄ molecule embedded in the surface region of a cluster containing 33 water molecules. An initial H₂SO₄ configuration is selected which could produce H₃O⁺ readily available for heterogeneous reactions, but which involves reduced solvation and is consistent with no dangling OH bonds for H₂SO₄. It is found that at 0 K and with zero-point energy included, the proton transfer is endothermic by 3.4 kcal/mol. This result is discussed in the context of reactions on sulfate aerosol surfaces and, further, more complex calculations.Contribution to the Jacopo Tomasi Honorary Issue     

Transport numbers of H+ and O2- in the electrochemical system (H2 + H2O),Me/BaCe0.9Nd0.1O3-α/Me,(H2 + H2O)

In the temperature range 873–1123 K, transport numbers of oxygen ions and protons are determined in the system (H₂ + H₂O), Me/BaCe_0.9Nd_0.1O_3-α/Me,(H₂ + H₂O), where Me = Ag, Au, Pt, Ni, by the emf and current methods. The determined transport numbers are independent of the determination method, the electrode material, the current direction (anodic and cathodic polarization of the electrode), polarizability of electrodes, and the partial water (hydrogen) pressure in the gas phase. This unambiguously suggests that the transport numbers refer to the solid electrolyte, and not the electrochemical system as a whole. It also follows that partial currents of the hydrogen ionization and the oxygen ion discharge are determined by the transport numbers of protons and oxygen ions in the electrolyte. At a constant temperature, their ratio is affected by neither the electrode potential nor the gas phase composition, i.e., both electrode reactions have a common limiting step (or steps). Deceased.     

Quantum dynamics calculation of reaction probability for H + Cl2 → HCl + Cl

We present in this paper a time-dependent quantum wave packet calculation of the initial state selected reaction probability for H + Cl₂ based on the GHNS potential energy surface with total angular momentumJ = 0. The effects of the translational, vibrational and rotational excitation of Cl₂ on the reaction probability have been investigated. In a broad region of the translational energy, the rotational excitation enhances the reaction probability while the vibrational excitation depresses the reaction probability. The theoretical results agree well with the fact that it is an early down-hill reaction.     

The phase diagrams and Pitzer model representations for the system KCl + MgCl2 + H2O at 50 and 75°C

The solubilities in the KCl-MgCl₂-H₂O system were determined at 50 and 75°C and the phase diagrams and the diagram of refractive index vs composition were plotted. Two invariant point, three univariant curves, and three crystallization zones, corresponding to potassium chloride, hexahydrate (MgCl₂ · 6H₂O) and double salt (KCl · MgCl₂ · 6H₂O) showed up in the phase diagrams of the ternary system, The mixing parameters ??_{K, Ca} and ??_{K, Ca, Cl} and equilibrium constant K _sp were evaluated in KCl-MgCl₂-H₂O system by least-squares optimization procedure, in which the single-salt Pitzer parameters of KCl and MgCl₂ ??⁽⁰⁾, ??⁽¹⁾, ??⁽²⁾, and C ^? were directly calculated from the literature. The results obtained were in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Liquid–liquid equilibria for the ternary system water + tetradecane + 2-butyloxyethanol

Liquid–liquid equilibria of the ternary system water + tetradecane + 2-butyloxyethanol in the temperature range from 298.15 to 338.15 K were investigated at atmospheric pressure. The experimental data correlated well with the UNIQUAC model. For the system with a three-liquid-phase-coexisting region, all the six UNIQUAC interaction parameters can be determined numerically by minimizing the deviation of the compositions of three coexisting liquid phases only.