Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Vol.106, No.8, 1567-1575, 2002
Tunable diode laser study of the reaction OH+ClO -> HCl+O-2
Time-resolved tunable diode laser spectroscopy has been used to measure the production of HCl in the reaction of OH and ClO radicals. The OH and ClO radicals were formed from the 308 nm laser photolysis of mixtures containing O-3, Cl-2, and H2O. Computer simulations of the chemistry were used to derive a rate coefficient of (1.25 +/- 0.45) x 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for the title reaction at 298 K. This reaction rate, which corresponds to a branching fraction of (6.5 +/- 3.0)% relative to the currently recommended rate coefficient for the overall reaction, confirms that the reaction will have a substantial impact on the partitioning of chlorine compounds in the stratosphere.