Simulation of initiated nonbranched chain oxidation of hydrogen: Oxygen as an autoinhibitor

A simple kinetic equation describing nonmonotonic (with a maximum) dependence of the hydrogen peroxide and water formation rate on the oxygen concentration was derived by the quasi-steady-state treatment in terms of the nonbranched-chain free-radical mechanism of noncatalytic hydrogen oxidation involving the relatively low-reactive radical HO ₄ ^? , which inhibits the chain process. Possible nonchain pathways of the free-radical oxidation of hydrogen, the energetics of key radical-molecule reactions, and the routes of ozone decay from the energetics standpoint via the reaction with the HO^? radical in the upper atmosphere (including the addition yielding the HO ₄ ^? radical, which can be an intermediate in the sequence of conversions of biologically hazardous UV radiation energy) were considered.