The temperature coefficient of the rates in the system Cl + CH4 ⇆ CH3 + HCl,thermochemistry of the methyl radical

The bimolecular rate constant for the title reaction has been measured by very-low-pressure reactor techniques at 233 < T K < 338. The equilibrium constant has also been measured between 253 and 338 K. Our rate constants are in excellent agreement with recent measurements using very different techniques and reaction conditions, and the general agreement probably makes this one of the most accurately measured rateconstants. Transition state models of the reaction rule out a bent TS in favor of a TS with colinear Cl···H···C bonds. The curvature at higher temperatures (>350 K) is quantitatively accounted for by transition state theory analysis. Tunneling is shown not to play a role. The measured values of K₁ allow an experimental value of S° (CH₃) to be fixed to only ±2.4 e.u. However, using known values of S° for all species gives ΔH°_f298(CH₃.) = 35.1 plusmn; 0.1 kcal/mol in excellent agreement with other measured values.