Flame inhibition by potassium

Potassium has been added at mol fractions ⩽ 10–3 to fuel-rich, laminar, premixed, atmospheric-pressure hydrogen + oxygen + nitrogen flames. Flame-photometric measurements on the acceleration of H and OH radical recombination observed to result from this addition are interpreted in terms of the gas phase reactions [graphic omitted] and [graphic omitted] with the following rate coefficients: log10(k1/cm3 molecule–1 s–1)=–(10.75 ± 0.5)–430 T–1; log10(k–1/cm3 molecule–1 s–1)=–(9.3 ± 0.5)–8700 T–1; log10(k2/cm6 molecule–2 s–1)=–(26.8 ± 0.4)–log10T; log10(k–2/cm3 molecule–1 s–1)=–(3.2 ± 0.4)–log10T–17 900 T–1; all for 1800 ⩽T⩽ 2200 K.