The effects of water vapor on the CH3O2 self-reaction and reaction with HO2

The gas phase reactions of CH3O2 + CH3O2, HO2 + HO2, and CH3O2 + HO2 in the presence of water vapor have been studied at temperatures between 263 and 303 K using laser flash photolysis coupled with UV time-resolved absorption detection at 220 and 260 nm. Water vapor concentrations were quantified using tunable diode laser spectroscopy operating in the mid-IR. The HO2 self-reaction rate constant is significantly enhanced by water vapor, consistent with what others have reported, whereas the CH3O2 self-reaction and the cross-reaction (CH3O2 + HO2) rate constants are nearly unaffected. The enhancement in the HO2 self-reaction rate coefficient occurs because of the formation of a strongly bound (6.9 kcal mol(-1)) HO2 x H2O complex during the reaction mechanism where the H2O acts as an energy chaperone. The nominal impact of water vapor on the CH3O2 self-reaction rate coefficient is consistent with recent high level ab initio calculations that predict a weakly bound CH3O2 x H2O complex (2.3 kcal mol(-1)). The smaller binding energy of the CH3O2 x H2O complex does not favor its formation and consequent participation in the methyl peroxy self-reaction mechanism.     

Kinetics of the reaction HO2 + NO2(+M) = HO2NO2 using molecular modulation spectrometry

Rate constants for the reaction HO₂ + NO₂(+ M) = HO₂NO₂(+ M) have been obtained from direct observations of the HO₂ radical using the technique of molecular modulation ultraviolet spectrometry. HO₂ was generated by periodic photolysis of Cl₂ in the presence of excess H₂ and O₂, and k₁ was determined from the measured concentrations and lifetime of HO₂ with NO₂ present. k₁ increased with pressure in the range of 40–600 Torr, and a simple energy transfer model gave the following limiting second- and third-order rate constants at 283 K: k₁^∞ = 1.5 ± 0.5 × 10^?12 cm³/molec·sec and k₁^III = 2.5 ± 0.5 × 10^?31 cm⁶/molec·sec. The ultraviolet absorption spectrum of peroxynitric acid was also recorded in the range of 195–265 nm; it showed a broad feature with a maximum at 200 nm, σ_max = 4.4 × 10^?18 cm².     

UV absorption cross sections of HO2NO2 vapor

The UV absorption cross sections for gas phase pernitric acid (HO₂NO₂) were measured between 190 and 330 nm at 298 K and 1 atm total pressure. The HO₂NO₂ vapor was prepared in a flowing stream of nitrogen in the presence of H₂O, H₂O₂, HNO₃ and NO₂. The composition of the mixture was established by visible and IR absorption spectroscopy and by chemical titration after absorption in aqueous solutions. The HO₂NO₂ cross sections ranged from approximately 10⁻¹⁷ cm² molecule⁻¹ at 190 nm to about 10⁻²¹ cm² molecule⁻¹ at 330 nm. The experimental uncertainty (one standard deviation) ranged from 5% at 200 nm to 30% at 330 nm and fell mainly in the 10% range. The solar photodissociation rate in the troposphere and lower stratosphere was estimated to be about 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹ for a solar zenith angle of 0°.     

Rate constant for the reaction Cl + HO2NO2 → products

The total rate constant for the reaction of Cl atoms with HO₂NO₂ was found to be less than 1.0 × 10^?13 cm³ s^?1 at 296 K by the discharge flow/resonance fluorescence technique. The reaction was also studied by the discharge flow/mass spectrometric technique. k_1a + k_1b was measured to be (3.4 ± 1.4) × 10^?14 cm³ s^?1 at 296 K. The reaction is too slow to be of any importance in stratospheric chemistry.     

Spin-orbit coupling effects in the gas-phase reaction Se + O2

The potential energy surface sections of the ground and excited states of the SeOO (C _s ) superoxo complex have been constructed on the basis of spin-orbit coupling calculations. The activation barriers to the forward and reverse reactions??superoxide SeOO ? peroxide Se(O₂) ? dioxide SeO₂??have been calculated. Changes in the spectral and spin properties of oxygen (zero-field splitting) and possible channels of formation of active forms of ¹O₂ oxygen (¹?? _g , ¹?? _g ⁺ ) upon dissociation of excited states of selenium oxo complexes have been scrutinized.     

Direct determination of the rate constant of the reaction NO + HO2 → NO2 + OH with the LMR

The rate of the reaction was determined in an isothermal discharge flow reactor with a combined ESR–LMR detection under pseudo-first-order conditions in HO₂. The rate constant was identical in experiments with two different HO₂ sources: F + H₂O₂ and H + O₂ + M. The absolute rate constant at T = 293 K was measured as In the range 2 ≤ p mbar ≤ 17 no pressure dependence for k₁ was found.     

Formation of nitrous acid and nitric oxide in the heterogeneous dark reaction of nitrogen dioxide and water vapor in a smog chamber

The dark reaction of NO_x and H₂O vapor in 1 atm of air was studied for the purpose of elucidating the recently discussed unknown radical source in smog chambers. Nitrous acid and nitric oxide were found to be formed by the reaction of NO₂ and H₂O in an evacuable and bakable smog chamber. No nitric acid was observed in the gas phase. The reaction is not stoichiometric and is thought to be a heterogeneous wall reaction. The reaction rate is first order with respect to NO₂ and H₂O, and the concentrations of HONO and NO initially increase linearly with time. The same reaction proceeds with a different rate constant in a quartz cell, and the reaction of NO₂ and H₂¹⁸O gave H¹⁸ONO exclusively. Taking into consideration the heterogeneous reaction of NO₂ and H₂O, the upper limit of the rate constant of the third-order reaction NO + NO₂ + H₂O → 2HONO was deduced to be (3.0 ± 1.4) × 10^?10 ppm^?2-min^?1, which is one order of magnitude smaller than the previously reported value. Nitrous acid formed by the heterogeneous dark reaction of NO₂ and H₂O should contribute significantly to both an initially present HONO and a continuous supply of OH radicals by photolysis in smog chamber experiments.     

FTIR spectroscopic study of the gas-phase reaction of HO2 with H2CO

The reaction of formaldehyde with HO₂ radicals in the presence of O₂ and NO₂ has been studied in a 420 ℓ reaction chamber at 0° C in 533 mbar of synthetic air. Reactants and products were measured by FTIR absorption spectrometry-Additional evidence is presented for the formation of the HOCH₂OO radical as the primary reaction product, by the IR spectroscopic identification of its NO₂ recombination product HOCH₂OONO₂. By computer simulation of the concentration-time profiles of HO₂NO₂, H₂CO and HOCH₂OONO₂, the rate constants (0°C, 533 mbar, M = air) k₁ = (1.1 ± 0.4) × 10^-13 cm³ s^-1 and k_-1 = 20_-10⁺²⁰ s^-i have been derived for the reactions (1, -1) HO₂ + H₂CO ⇌ HOCH₂OO.     

Ab initio investigation on the reaction path and rate for the gas-phase reaction of HO + H2O <--> H2O + OH

This article describes an ab initio investigation on the potential surfaces for one of the simplest hydrogen atom abstraction reactions, that is, HO + H2O <--> H2O + OH. In accord with the findings in the previously reported theoretical investigations, two types of the hydrogen-bonding complexes [HOH--OH] and [H2O--HO] were located on the potential energy surface. The water molecule acts as a hydrogen donor in the [HOH--OH] complex, while the OH radical acts as a hydrogen donor in the [H2O--HO] complex. The energy evaluations at the MP2(FC) basis set limit, as well as those through the CBS-APNO procedure, have provided estimates for enthalpies of association for these complexes at 298 K as -2.1 approximately -2.3 and -4.1 approximately -4.3 kcal/mol, respectively. The IRC calculations have suggested that the [H2O--HO] complex should be located along the reaction coordinate for the hydrogen abstraction. Our best estimate for the classical barrier height for the hydrogen abstraction is 7.8 kcal/mol, which was obtained from the CBS-APNO energy evaluations. After fitting the CBS-APNO potential energy curve to a symmetrical Eckart function, the rate constants were calculated by using the transition state theory including the tunneling correction. Our estimates for the Arrhenius parameters in the temperature region from 300 to 420 K show quite reasonable agreement with the experimentally derived values.     

Constraining the mechanism and kinetics of OH + NO2 and HO2 + NO using the multiple-well master equation

Several recent experimental studies have provided substantial new constraints for the mechanisms on the HNO3 potential energy surface. These include observations of biexponential OH decay over short time scales from OH + NO2, which constrain key properties of the short-lived HOONO intermediate, observations of both conformers of the HOONO intermediate itself, isotopic scrambling data for 18OH + NO2, and observations of HONO2 production from the HO2 + NO reaction. We combine all of these recent data in a master-equation simulation of the system. This simulation is initialized with computational values for both stable species (wells) and transition states, but parameters are then adjusted to fit the observations. All parameters are kept within limits defined by experimental and theoretical uncertainty, and all converge away from their bounds. The primary fitting is carried out on the OH kinetic data-we first fit the biexponential kinetics, then address the isotopic scrambling. Isotopic scrambling is shown to be rapid but not complete at low pressure, while at least two parameter sets are shown to be consistent with the biexponential data. Of these two parameter sets, one is far more consistent with recent observations of trans-HOONO decay, isotopic scrambling, and HONO2 production from HO2 + NO. This we regard as the most probable potential energy surface for the reaction. On this PES, cis-trans isomerization for HOONO is slow but isomerization of trans-HOONO to HONO2 is rapid. This has significant implications for observed HOONO behavior and also HONO2 formation in the atmosphere from both HO2 + NO and OH + NO2.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the glyoxal + HO2 reaction: conversion of HO2 to OH by carbonyls

The kinetics of the glyoxal + HO(2) reaction have been investigated using computational chemistry and statistical reaction rate theory techniques, with consideration of a novel pathway that results in the conversion of HO(2) to OH. Glyoxal is shown to react with HO(2) to form an α-hydroxyperoxy radical with additional α-carbonyl functionality. Intramolecular H atom abstraction from the carbonyl moiety proceeds with a relatively low barrier, facilitating decomposition to OH + CO + HC(O)OH (formic acid). Time-dependent master equation simulations demonstrate that direct reaction to form OH is relatively slow at ambient temperature. The major reaction product is predicted to be collisionally deactivated HC(OH)(OO)CHO, which predominantly dissociates to reform the reactants under low-NO(x) conditions. The mechanism described here for the conversion of OH to HO(2) is available to a diverse range of carbonyls, including methylglyoxal, glycolaldehyde, hydroxyacetone, and glyoxylic acid, and energy surfaces are reported for the reaction of these species with HO(2).     

Reflected shock tube studies of high-temperature rate constants for OH + NO2 --> HO2 + NO and OH + HO2 --> H2O + O2

The motivation for the present study comes from the preceding paper where it is suggested that accepted rate constants for OH + NO2 --> NO + HO2 are high by approximately 2. This conclusion was based on a reevaluation of heats of formation for HO2, OH, NO, and NO2 using the Active Thermochemical Table (ATcT) approach. The present experiments were performed in C2H5I/NO2 mixtures, using the reflected shock tube technique and OH-radical electronic absorption detection (at 308 nm) and using a multipass optical system. Time-dependent profile decays were fitted with a 23-step mechanism, but only OH + NO2, OH + HO2, both HO2 and NO2 dissociations, and the atom molecule reactions, O + NO2 and O + C2H4, contributed to the decay profile. Since all of the reactions except the first two are known with good accuracy, the profiles were fitted by varying only OH + NO2 and OH + HO2. The new ATcT approach was used to evaluate equilibrium constants so that back reactions were accurately taken into account. The combined rate constant from the present work and earlier work by Glaenzer and Troe (GT) is k(OH+NO2) = 2.25 x 10(-11) exp(-3831 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), which is a factor of 2 lower than the extrapolated direct value from Howard but agrees well with NO + HO2 --> OH + NO2 transformed with the updated equilibrium constants. Also, the rate constant for OH + HO2 suitable for combustion modeling applications over the T range (1200-1700 K) is (5 +/- 3) x 10(-11) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). Finally, simulating previous experimental results of GT using our updated mechanism, we suggest a constant rate for k(HO2+NO2) = (2.2 +/- 0.7) x 10(-11) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) over the T range 1350-1760 K.     

Kinetics of reaction between acetic acid and Ag2+ in nitric acid medium

The reaction kinetics between acetic acid and Ag²⁺ in nitric acid medium is studied by spectrophotometry. The effects of concentrations of acetic acid (HAc), H⁺, NO^?₃, and temperature on the reaction are investigated. The rate equation has been determined to be –dc(Ag²⁺)/dt = kc(Ag²⁺)c(HAc)c^?1(H⁺), where k = (610 ± 15) (mol/L)^?1 min^?1 with an activation energy of about (48. 8 ± 3.5) kJ mol^?1 when the reaction temperature is 25°C and the ionic strength is 4.0 mol L^?1. The reduction rate of Ag²⁺ increases with the increase in HAc concentration and/or temperature and the decrease in HNO₃ concentration. However, the effect of NO^?₃ concentrations within 0.5–2.5 mol L^?1 on the reaction rate is negligible. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 45: 47–51, 2013     

Dynamics and kinetics of the S + HO2 reaction: A theoretical study

We report a quasi‐classical trajectory study of the S + HO₂ reaction using a previously reported global potential energy surface for the ground electronic state of HSO₂. Zero‐point energy leakage is approximately accounted for by using the vibrational energy quantum mechanical threshold method. Calculations are carried out both for specific ro‐vibrational states of the reactants and thermalized ones, with rate constants being reported as a function of temperature. The results suggest that the title reaction is capture type, with OH and SO showing as the most favorable products. The internal energy distribution of such products and the reaction mechanism are also investigated. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 533–540, 2008     

A kinetic and product study of the Cl + HO2 reaction

Absolute rate data and product branching ratios for the reactions Cl + HO2 --> HCl + O2 (k1a) and Cl + HO2 --> OH + ClO (k1b) have been measured from 226 to 336 K at a total pressure of 1 Torr of helium using the discharge flow resonance fluorescence technique coupled with infrared diode laser spectroscopy. For kinetic measurements, pseudo-first-order conditions were used with both reagents in excess in separate experiments. HO2 was produced by two methods: through the termolecular reaction of H atoms with O2 and also by the reaction of F atoms with H2O2. Cl atoms were produced by a microwave discharge of Cl2 in He. HO2 radicals were converted to OH radicals prior to detection by resonance fluorescence at 308 nm. Cl atoms were detected directly at 138 nm also by resonance fluorescence. Measurement of the consumption of HO2 in excess Cl yielded k1a and measurement of the consumption of Cl in excess HO2 yielded the total rate coefficient, k1. Values of k1a and k1 derived from kinetic experiments expressed in Arrhenius form are (1.6 +/- 0.2) x 10(-11) exp[(249 +/- 34)/T] and (2.8 +/- 0.1) x 10(-11) exp[(123 +/- 15)/T] cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), respectively. As the expression for k1 is only weakly temperature dependent, we report a temperature-independent value of k1 = (4.5 +/- 0.4) x 10(-11) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). Additionally, an Arrhenius expression for k1b can also be derived: k1b = (7.7 +/- 0.8) x 10(-11) exp[-(708 +/- 29)/T] cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). These expressions for k1a and k1b are valid for 226 K < or = T < or = 336 and 256 K < or = T < or = 296 K, respectively. The cited errors are at the level of a single standard deviation. For the product measurements, an excess of Cl was added to known concentrations of HO2 and the reaction was allowed to reach completion. HCl product concentrations were determined by IR absorption yielding the ratio k1a/k1 over the temperature range 236 K < or = T < or = 296 K. OH product concentrations were determined by resonance fluorescence giving rise to the ratio k1b/k1 over the temperature range 226 K < or = T < or = 336 K. Both of these ratios were subsequently converted to absolute numbers. Values of k1a and k1b from the product experiments expressed in Arrhenius form are (1.5 +/- 0.1) x 10(-11) exp[(222 +/- 17)/T] and (10.6 +/- 1.5) x 10(-11) exp[-(733 +/- 41)/T] cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), respectively. These expressions for k1a and k1b are valid for 256 K < or = T < or = 296 and 226 K < or = T < or = 336 K, respectively. A combination of the kinetic and product data results in the following Arrhenius expressions for k1a and k1b of (1.4 +/- 0.3) x 10(-11) exp[(269 +/- 58)/T] and (12.7 +/- 4.1) x 10(-11) exp[-(801 +/- 94)/T] cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), respectively. Numerical simulations were used to check for interferences from secondary chemistry in both the kinetic and product experiments and also to quantify the losses incurred during the conversion process HO2 --> OH for detection purposes.     

Water-catalyzed gas-phase hydrogen abstraction reactions of CH3O2 and HO2 with HO2: a computational investigation

The gas-phase hydrogen abstraction reactions of CH(3)O(2) and HO(2) with HO(2) in the presence and absence of a single water molecule have been studied at the CCSD(T)/6-311++G(3d,2p)//B3LYP/6-311G(2d,2p) level of theory. The calculated results show that the process for O(3) formation is much faster than that for (1)O(2) and (3)O(2) formation in the water-catalyzed CH(3)O(2) + HO(2) reaction. This is different from the results for the non-catalytic reaction of CH(3)O(2) + HO(2), in which almost only the process for (3)O(2) formation takes place. Unlike CH(3)O(2) + HO(2) reaction in which the preferred process is different in the catalytic and non-catalytic conditions, the channel for (3)O(2) formation is the dominant in both catalytic and non-catalytic HO(2) + HO(2) reactions. Furthermore, the calculated total CVT/SCT rate constants for water-catalyzed and non-catalytic title reactions show that the water molecule doesn't contribute to the rate of CH(3)O(2) + HO(2) reaction though the channel for O(3) formation in this water-catalyzed reaction is more kinetically favorable than its non-catalytic process. Meanwhile, the water molecule plays an important positive role in increasing the rate of HO(2) + HO(2) reaction. These results are in good agreement with available experiments.     

The gas-phase reaction between O3 and HO radical: a theoretical study.

We report a theoretical study on the reaction of ozone with hydroxyl radical, which is important in the chemistry of the atmosphere and in particular participates in stratospheric ozone destruction. The reaction is a complex process that involves, in the first stage, a pre-reactive hydrogen-bonded complex (C1), which is formed previous to two transition states (TS1 and TS2) involving the addition of the hydroxyl radical to ozone, and leads to the formation of HO4 polyoxide radical before the release of the products HO2 and O2. The reaction is computed to be exothermic by 42.72 kcal mol(-1), which compares quite well with the experimental estimate, and the energy barriers of TS1 and TS2 with respect to C1 are computed to be 1.80 and 2.26 kcal mol(-1) at 0 K. A kinetic study based on the variational transition state theory (VTST) predicts a rate constant, at 298 K, of 7.37 x 10(-14) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), compared to the experimentally recommended value of 7.25 x 10(-14) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1).     

Self-Reaction of HO2 and DO2: Negative temperature dependence and pressure effects

The negative temperature dependence, pressure dependence, and isotope effects of the self-reaction of HO₂ are modeled, using RRKM theory, by assuming that the reaction proceeds via a cyclic, hydrogen-bonded intermediate. The negative temperature dependence is due to a tight transition state, with a negative threshold energy relative to reactants, for decomposition of the intermediate to products. A symmetric structure for this transition state reproduces the observed isotope effect. The weak pressure dependence for DO₂ self-reaction is due to the approach to the high-pressure limit. Addition of a polar collision partner, such as ammonia or water vapor, enhances the rate by forming an adduct that reacts to produce deexcited intermediate. A detailed model is presented to fit the data for these effects. Large ammonia concentrations should make it possible to reach the high-pressure limit of the self-reaction of HO₂.     

Temperature dependence of the reactions of HO2 with NO and NO2

Mixtures of N₂O, H₂, O₂, and trace amounts of NO and NO₂ were photolyzed at 213.9 nm, at 245°–328°K, and at about 1 atm total pressure (mostly H₂). HO₂ radicals are produced from the photolysis and they react as follows: Reaction (1b) is unimportant under all of our reaction conditions. Reaction (1a) was studied in competition with reaction (3) from which it was found that k_1a/k₃^1/2 = 6.4 × 10^?6 exp { z?(1400 ± 500)/RT} cm^3/2/sec^1/2. If k₃ is taken to be 3.3 × 10^?12 cm³/sec independent of temperature, k_1a = 1.2 × 10^?11 exp {?(1400 ± 500)/RT} cm³/sec. Reaction (2a) is negligible compared to reaction (2b) under all of our reaction conditions. The ratio k_2b/k₁ = 0.61 ± 0.15 at 245°K. Using the Arrhenius expression for k_1a given above leads to k_2b = 4.2 × 10^?13 cm³/sec, which is assumed to be independent of temperature. The intermediate HO₂NO₂ is unstable and induces the dark oxidation of NO through reaction (?2b), which was found to have a rate coefficient k_?2b = 6 × 10¹⁷ exp {?26,000/RT} sec^?1 based on the value of k_1a given above. The intermediate can also decompose via Reaction (10b) is at least partially heterogeneous.     

A systematic computational study of the reactions of HO2 with RO2: the HO2 + C2H5O2 reaction

The reaction of HO2 with C2H5O2 has been studied using the density functional theory (B3LYP) and the coupled-cluster theory [CCSD(T)]. The reaction proceeds on the triplet potential energy surface via hydrogen abstraction to form ethyl hydroperoxide and oxygen. On the singlet potential energy surface, the addition-elimination mechanism is revealed. Variational transition state theory is used to calculate the temperature-dependent rate constants in the range 200-1000 K. At low temperatures (e.g., below 300 K), the reaction takes place predominantly on the triplet surface. The calculated low-temperature rate constants are in good agreement with the experimental data. As the temperature increases, the singlet reaction mechanism plays more and more important role, with the formation of OH radical predominantly. The isotope effect of the reaction (DO2 + C2D5O2 vs HO2 + C2H5O2) is negligible. In addition, the triplet abstraction energetic routes for the reactions of HO2 with 11 alkylperoxy radicals (CnHmO2) are studied. It is shown that the room-temperature rate constants have good linear correlation with the activation energies for the hydrogen abstraction.