Kinetic studies of reactions of the nitrate radical (NO3) with peroxy radicals (RO2): an indirect source of OH at night?

Vaughan, S., Canosa-Mas, C. E., Pfrang, C., Shallcross, D. E., Watson, L. and Wayne, R.P. (2006) Kinetic studies of reactions of the nitrate radical (NO3) with peroxy radicals (RO2): an indirect source of OH at night? Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 8 (32). pp. 3749-3760. ISSN 1463-9076 doi: 10.1039/B605569A

Abstract/Summary

A discharge-flow system, coupled to cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (CEAS) detection systems for NO3 at lambda = 662 nm and NO2 at lambda = 404 nm, was used to investigate the kinetics of the reactions of NO3 with eight peroxy radicals at P similar to 5 Torr and T similar to 295 K. Values of the rate constants obtained were (k/10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)): CH3O2 (1.1 +/- 0.5), C2H5O2 (2.3 +/- 0.7), CH2FO2 (1.4 +/- 0.9), CH2ClO2 (3.8(-2.6)(+1.4)), c-C5H9O2 (1.2(-0.5)(+1.1)), c-C6H11O2 (1.9 +/- 0.7), CF3O2 (0.62 +/- 0.17) and CF3CFO2CF3 (0.24 +/- 0.13). We explore possible relationships between k and the orbital energies of the reactants. We also provide a brief discussion of the potential impact of the reactions of NO3 with RO2 on the chemistry of the night-time atmosphere.