The pressure dependence of the rate constant for the reaction: HO + CO → H + CO2

Relative rate measurements of the reactions of the HO-radical with CO [HO + CO → H + CO₂ (1)] and with isobutane [HO + iso-C₄H₁₀ → H₂O + t-(or iso-)C₄H₉ (3)] have been made through the photolysis of dilute mixtures of HONO with CO, iso-C₄H₁₀, NO₂, and NO in simulated air at 700 and 100 torr pressure and 25 ± 2°C. In situ, long path, FT-IR analysis of the reactants and products provided essentially continuous monitoring of the reactions during the course of the experiments. The kinetic analysis of the data coupled with Greiner's estimate of k₃ give new estimates of k₁ = 439 ± 24 ppm^?1 min^?1 in air at 700 torr and k₁ = 203 ± 29 ppm^?1 in air at 100 torr. The results confirm the recent conclusions of Cox and Sie and their co-workers that the rate constant for reaction (1) is pressure dependent. Modeliers of the chemical changes which occur in the troposphere should adopt a new value for the rate constant k₁ which is about a factor of two larger than that in current use by most groups.