Kinetic Parameters for Direct Atomic Substitution Reactions

Experimental data (the rate constants and activation energies) for seven reactions of direct substitution of one atom for another D + CH₃R CH₂DR + H, D + NH₃ DNH₂ + H, D + H₂O HOD + H, F + CH₃X CH₃F + X (X = F, Cl, Br, and I) involving atoms D and F and molecules C₂H₆, H₂O, NH₃, CH₃F, CH₃Cl, CH₃Br, and CH₃I are analyzed using the parabolic model of a bimolecular radical reaction. The activation energies for the thermally neutral analogs of these substitution reactions are calculated. Atomic substitution involving deuterium atoms has a lower activation energy of a thermally neutral reaction than radical abstraction or substitution.