Rate constant of the reaction of F atoms with methane over the temperature range 220–960 K

Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Kinetics of the CH3 + HBr → CH4 + Br Reaction and the Temperature Dependence of the Activation Energy of CH4 + Br → CH3 + HBr

The rate coefficient of the reaction of CH3 with HBr was measured and calculated in the temperature range 225-960 K. The results of the measurements performed in a flow apparatus with mass spectrometric detection agree very well with the quasiclassical trajectory calculations performed on a previously developed potential energy surface. The experimental rate coefficients are described well with a double-exponential fit, k1(exp) = [1.44 × 10-12 exp(219/T) + 6.18 × 10-11 exp(-3730/T)] cm3 molecule-1 s-1. The individual rate coefficients below 500 K accord with the available experimental data as does the slightly negative activation energy in this temperature range, -1.82 kJ/mol. At higher temperatures, the activation energy was found to switch sign and it rises up to about an order of magnitude larger positive value than that below 500 K, and the rate coefficient is about 50% larger at 960 K than that around room temperature. The rate coefficients calculated with the quasiclassical trajectory method display the same tendencies and are within about 8% of the experimental data between 960 and 300 K and within 25% below that temperature. The significant variation of the magnitude of the activation energy can be reconciled with the tabulated heats of formation only if the activation energy of the reverse CH4 + Br reaction also significantly increases with the temperature.

Rate Coefficients of the Reactions of Fluorine Atoms with H2S and SH over the Temperature Range 220-960 K

Reaction F + H₂S→SH + HF (1) is an effective source of SH radicals and an important intermediate in atmospheric and combustion chemistry. We employed a discharge-flow, modulated molecular beam mass spectrometry technique to determine the rate coefficient of this reaction and that of the secondary one, F + SH→S + HF (2), at a total pressure of 2 Torr and in a wide temperature range 220-960 K. The rate coefficient of Reaction (1) was determined directly by monitoring consumption of F atoms under pseudo-first-order conditions in an excess of H₂S. The rate coefficient of Reaction (2) was determined via monitoring the maximum concentration of the product of Reaction (1), SH radical, as a function of [H₂S]. Both rate coefficients were found to be virtually independent of temperature in the entire temperature range of the study: k₁ = (1.86 ± 0.28) × 10^-10 and k₂ = (2.0 ± 0.40) × 10^-10 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1. The kinetic data from the present study are compared with previous room temperature measurements.