Antarctic ozone depletion chemistry: reactions of N/sub 2/O/sub 5/ with H/sub 2/O and HCl on ice surfaces

Journal Article · Fri May 20 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.240.4855.1018· OSTI ID:6999856

Tolbert, M A; Rossi, M J; Golden, D M

The reactions of dinitrogen pentoxide (N/sub 2/O/sub 5/) with H/sub 2/O and hydrochloric acid (HCl) were studied on ice surfaces in a Knudsen cell flow reactor. The N/sub 2/O/sub 5/ reacted on ice at 185 K to form condensed-phase nitric acid (HNO/sub 3/). This reaction may provide a sink for odd nitrogen (NO/sub x/) during the polar winter, a requirement in nearly all models of Antarctic ozone depletion. A lower limit to the sticking coefficient, ..gamma.., for N/sub 2/O/sub 5/ on ice is 1 x 10/sup -3/. Moreover, N/sub 2/O/sub 5/ reacted on HCl-ice surfaces at 185 K, with ..gamma.. greater than 3 x 10/sup -3/. This reaction, which produced gaseous nitryl chloride (ClNO/sub 2/) and condensed-phase HNO/sub 3/, proceeded until all of the HCl within the ice was depleted. The ClNO/sub 2/, which did not react or condense on ice at 185 K, can be readily photolyzed in the Antarctic spring to form atomic chlorine for catalytic ozone destruction cycles. The other photolysis product, gaseous nitrogen dioxide (NO/sub 2/), may be important in the partitioning of NO/sub x/ between gaseous and condensed phases in the Antarctic winter. 17 references, 3 figures.

• Research Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6999856
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 240; ISSN SCIEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
ANTARCTICA
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DATA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ICE
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ACIDS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
POLAR REGIONS
REMOVAL
WATER