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Evaluating the Atmospheric Loss of H<sub>2</sub> by NO<sub>3</sub> Radicals: A Theoretical Study
oleh: Manolis N. Romanias, Thanh Lam Nguyen
Format: | Article |
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Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2022-08-01 |
Deskripsi
Molecular hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) is now considered among the most prominent substitute for fossil fuels. The environmental impacts of a hydrogen economy have received more attention in the last years, but still, the knowledge is relatively poor. In this work, the reaction of H<sub>2</sub> with NO<sub>3</sub> radical (the dominant night-time detergent of the atmosphere) is studied for the first time using high-level composite G3B3 and modification of high accuracy extrapolated ab initio thermochemistry (mHEAT) methods in combination with statistical kinetics analysis using non-separable semi-classical transition state theory (SCTST). The reaction mechanism is characterized, and it is found to proceed as a direct H-abstraction process to yield HNO<sub>3</sub> plus H atom. The reaction enthalpy is calculated to be 12.8 kJ mol<sup>−1</sup>, in excellent agreement with a benchmark active thermochemical tables (ATcT) value of 12.2 ± 0.3 kJ mol<sup>−1</sup>. The energy barrier of the title reaction was calculated to be 74.6 and 76.7 kJ mol<sup>−1</sup> with G3B3 and mHEAT methods, respectively. The kinetics calculations with the non-separable SCTST theory give a modified-Arrhenius expression of k(T) = 10<sup>−15</sup> × T<sup>0.7</sup> × exp(−6120/T) (cm<sup>3</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>) for T = 200–400 K and provide an upper limit value of 10<sup>−22</sup> cm<sup>3</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> at 298 K for the reaction rate coefficient. Therefore, as compared to the main consumption pathway of H<sub>2</sub> by OH radicals, the title reaction plays an unimportant role in H<sub>2</sub> loss in the Earth’s atmosphere and is a negligible source of HNO<sub>3</sub>.