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Rate Coefficients for OH + NO (+N2) in the Fall-off Regime and the Impact of Water Vapor

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Max-Planck-Inst. for Chemistry, Mainz (Germany); Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  2. Max-Planck-Inst. for Chemistry, Mainz (Germany)

The termolecular, association reaction between OH and NO is a source of nitrous acid (HONO), an important atmospheric trace gas. Rate coefficients for the title reaction as recommended by evaluation panels differ substantially at the temperatures and pressures that prevail in the Earth’s boundary layer where the reaction is in the fall-off regime between low- and high-pressure limiting rate coefficients. Using pulsed laser methods for generation and detection of OH, we have reinvestigated the kinetics of the title reaction at pressures of 22–743 Torr (1 Torr = 1.333 hPa) and temperatures (273, 298, and 333 K) in pure N2 and in N2–H2O bath gases. In situ optical absorption measurements were used to rule out any bias due to NO2 or HONO impurities. Our rate coefficients (k1) in N2 bath gas are parametrized in terms of low-pressure (ko) and high-pressure (k) rate coefficients and a fall-off parameter (FC) with k1,0N2 = 7.24 × 10–31 (T/300 K)–2.17 cm6 molecule–2 s–1, k1,∞ = 3.3 × 10–12 (T/300 K)–3 cm3 molecule–1 s–1, and FC = 0.53. Used with the “Troe” expression for termolecular reactions, these parameters accurately reproduce the current data in the fall-off regime and also capture literature rate coefficients at extrapolated temperatures. The presence of water vapor was found to enhance the rate coefficients of the title reaction significantly. The low-pressure limiting rate coefficient in H2O bath gas is a factor 5–6 larger than in N2, at room temperature (k1,oH2O = 4.55 × 10–30 (T/300 K)–4.85 cm6 molecule–2 s–1) indicating that H2O is much more efficient in quenching the association complex HONO* through collisional energy transfer. Based on measurements in N2–H2O mixtures, a parametrization of k1 including both N2 and H2O as third-body quenchers was derived. Neglecting the effect of H2O results, e.g., in an underestimation of k1 by >10% in the tropical boundary layer.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1881610
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-833667; 1051914
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory Journal Issue: 24 Vol. 126; ISSN 1089-5639
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (39)

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Kinetics of the OH + NO2 reaction: rate coefficients (217–333 K, 16–1200 mbar) and fall-off parameters for N2 and O2 bath gases journal August 2019
Kinetics of the OH + NO2 reaction: effect of water vapour and new parameterization for global modelling journal March 2020
Kinetics of OH + SO2 + M: temperature-dependent rate coefficients in the fall-off regime and the influence of water vapour journal April 2022
Evaluated kinetic and photochemical data for atmospheric chemistry: Volume I - gas phase reactions of Ox, HOx, NOx and SOx species journal January 2004

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