Efficiencies of third bodies in the reaction H + O2 + M = HO2 + M

Vibrational transition probabilities have been calculated by the Schwartz, Slawsky and Herzfeld method 3] for the deactivation of HO₂* in collision with H₂, O₂ and CO₂. The relative efficiencies of H₂, O₂ and CO₂ are compared with their third-body efficiencies found experimentally and it is concluded that the transfer of large vibrational quanta from HO₂* is unlikely to play an important part in determining the position of the second explosion limit of the H₂/O₂ reaction. This conclusion is at variance with the explanation put forward by Walsh 1] of the ‘anomalous’ third-body efficiencies of H₂O and CO₂ in this reaction.