Abstract: | Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of O3 with the sesquiterpenes α-cedrene, α-copaene, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, and longifolene, and with the monoterpenes limonene, terpinolene, α-phellandrene, and α-terpinene, have been measured using a relative rate technique at 296 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure of air. The rate constants obtained (in units of 10?17 cm3 molecule?1 s?1) are: limonene, 20.1 ± 5.1; terpinolene, 188 ± 67; α-phellandrene, 298 ± 105; α-terpinene, 2110 ± 770; α-cedrene, 2.78 ± 0.71; α-copaene, 15.8 ± 5.6; β-caryophyllene, 1160 ± 430; α-humulene, 1170 ± 450; and longifolene, <0.07, where the indicated errors include the estimated overall uncertainties in the rate constants for the reference organics. Hydroxyl radical formation yields were also determined for the O3 reactions with the sesquiterpenes, of 0.67 for α-cedrene, 0.35 for α-copaene, 0.06 for β-caryophyllene, and 0.22 for α-humulene, all with estimated overall uncertainties of a factor of ca. 1.5. The tropospheric lifetimes of the sesquiterpenes due to reaction with O3 are calculated. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |