Rate constant determinations by laser photolysis/diode laser infrared absorption: examples of HCO+O2→HO2+CO and CH2OH+O2→HCH(O)+HO2 reactions at 294 K

The reactions of formyl (HCO) and hydroxymethyl (CH2OH) radicals with O2 have been studied at room temperature (294±2 K) using pulsed laser photolysis (PLP)/tunable diode laser (TDL) absorption spectroscopy. The formation of the stable molecular product, CO or HCH(O), has been monitored. The derived values, k1=(5.0±0.7)×10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 and k2=(10±1.4)×10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, are in excellent agreement with previously published values obtained with different techniques.