TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENCE OF THE REACTIONS OF METHYLENE WITH OXYGEN-ATOMS, OXYGEN, AND NITRIC-OXIDE

Molecular beam sampling and subsequent mass spectrometric analysis have been used as detection techniques for methylene radicals produced in the oxidation process of acetylene with oxygen atoms in a fast flow reactor. Reactions of CH2 with oxygen atoms, molecular oxygen, and nitric oxide are investigated in the temperature region between 295 and 600 K. For reaction 2, CH2 + O, an activation energy of about 0 kcal mol-1 has been found while for reaction 3, CH2 + O2, the value E3 = 1.5 ± 0.3 kcal mol-1 is derived. Reaction 4, CH2 + NO, shows non-Arrhenius behavior and has a negative activation energy, E4 = -1.1 ± 0.4 kcal mol-1. In addition, complete Arrhenius expressions for the rate constants of reactions 3 and 4 are given and an attempt is made to determine the possible reaction products of these reactions. © 1979 American Chemical Society.