Low-pressure study of the HO2 + HO2 reaction at 298 K

The rate constant for the reaction HO2 + HO2 yields H2O2 + O2 was measured at 298 K and 1 torr total pressure of helium by using the discharge flow technique. A quadrupole mass spectrometer was used to detect HO2 in conjunction with in situ long-path ultraviolet absorption which was used for calibration. A value of 1.5 + or - 0.4 x 10 to the -12th per molecule/s was obtained for k1 where the rate constant is defined by the relation -d(HO2)/dt = 2K1(HO2)HO2.