Atmospheric chemistry of CF3CF2H and CF3CF2CF2CF2H: Kinetics and products of gas-phase reactions with Cl atoms and OH radicals, infrared spectra, and formation of perfluorocarboxylic acids

Relative rate techniques were used to determine k(Cl + C2F5H) = (2.93 ± 0.23) × 10−16, k(Cl + n-C4F9H) = (2.77 ± 0.20) × 10−16, k(OH + C2F5H) = (1.96 ± 0.25) × 10−15, and k(OH + n-C4F9H) = (1.85 ± 0.29) × 10−15 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 at 296 K. The reactivity of C2F5H and n-C4F9H was indistinguishable. Atmospheric lifetimes, radiative efficiencies, and global warming potentials (100 year horizon) of C2F5H and n-C4F9H were estimated as 31 years, 0.21 and 0.31 W m−2 ppb−1, and 3280 and 2660, respectively. In the absence of NOx the chlorine-initiated oxidation of C2F5H and n-C4F9H gives perfluorocarboxylic acids in small (<2%) but detectable yields.