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Rate constant and mechanism for the reaction of hydroxyl radical with formic acid

Journal Article · · J. Phys. Chem.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100282a028· OSTI ID:7005757

The rate constants for the reaction of OH with the monomer and dimer of formic acid have been determined at 296 K by a laser photolysis-resonance absorption technique. The OH radicals were generated by photolysis of formic acid at 222 nm with a KrCl excimer laser and were monitored by time-resolved absorption at several resonance lines of the (0,0) band of the A/sup 2/..sigma../sup +/-X/sup 2/II transition. The rate constant for the monomer was found to be 2.95 x 10/sup 11/ cm/sup 3/ mol/sup -1/ s/sup -1/. The dimer is much less reactive. Experiments with small amounts of oxygen added indicate that H atoms are formed during the reaction. The results can be interpreted as indicating significantly more abstraction of hydrogen by OH from the -OH bond than from the -CH bond of formic acid.

Research Organization:
National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
OSTI ID:
7005757
Journal Information:
J. Phys. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Phys. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 90:24; ISSN JPCHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English