Absolute rate constant of the reaction OH + HO2 yields H2O + O2

The absolute rate constant of the reaction OH + HO2 yields H2O + O2 was determined by using the discharge-flow resonance fluorescence technique at 299 K and 1-torr total pressure. Pseudo-first-order conditions were used with HO2 concentrations in large excess over OH. Secondary reactions of atomic oxygen and atomic hydrogen were shown not to interfere under the conditions used. The result is (6.4 plus or minus 1.5) x 10 to the -11th cu cm/molecule s where the error limits are twice the standard deviation. The overall experimental error is estimated to be plus or minus 30%.