Reactions of Gaseous Hydroxyl Radicals

VERY little is known of the rates of reaction of hydroxyl radicals. The most extensive work is that of Avramenko and Lorentso1, but that has been critically reviewed by Steacie2. In the present work the homogeneous decomposition of hydrogen peroxide was used as a source of hydroxyl radicals3, and the relative rates at which hydroxyl radicals react with methane, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide were estimated. The method was checked by independent experiments wherein methane was oxidized thermally at 500° C. to formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.