The Formation of O and H Atoms in the Reaction of CH₂ with O₂ at High Temperatures

Abstract

Abstract The formation of O and H atoms in the reaction of CH 2 with O 2 was investigated behind incident shock waves at temperatures between 1000 K and 1700 K and at total densities between 5 · 10 −6 and 1 · 10 −5 mol/cm 3 by means of Atomic Resonance Absorption Spectroscopy (ARAS) at 130.5 nm and 121.6 nm, respectively. The contribution of O and H forming channels was found to be about 20%. The rates of formation of O and H atoms in this reaction were determined to be k 1a = (4 ± 2) · 10 10 cm 3 /mol · s k 1e = (5 ± 2) · 10 10 cm 3 /mol · s In the temperature range investigated an over all rate constant can be represented by k 1 = (5 ± 3) · 10 11 cm 3 /mol · s. A comparison with low temperature data leads to a change of the apparent energy of activation of the overall reaction in the temperature range between 300 and 1000 K.