EXPLANATION OF THE PREFERENTIAL FORMATION OF LESS STABLE ISOMERS IN 3-BODY REACTIONS - CL+NO2+M - CIO+NO2+M

Low-pressure limit rate constants for the three-body reactions, (1) Cl + NO2+M→ products and (2) ClO + NO2 + M→ products, have been calculated according to Troe's method [J. Chem. Phys. 66, 4758 (1977)]. The result for the reaction of Cl + NO2 + M is in excellent agreement with the experimental finding of Niki et al. [Chem. Phys. Lett. 59, 78 (1978)]. An explanation is proposed to account for apparent discrepancy between the measured rate constants for ClO + NO2 + M in the forward and reverse directions. The stratospheric implications are also discussed. © 1979 American Institute of Physics.