Pressure and temperature dependences of the reaction of OH with nitric acid

Rate constants for the reaction of OH with HNO3 have been measured by using a laser flash photolysis resonance absorption technique at 298 and 248 K in the presence of 10-730 Torr of He, N2, and SF6. A dependence on total pressure was observed with rate constant values increasing at 298 K from 1.11 x 10 to the -13th cu cm/molecule/s at 10 Torr to 1.45 x 10 to the -13th cu cm/molecule/s at 730 Torr, and at 248 K from 1.87 x 10 to the -13th cu cm/molecule/s at 10 Torr to 3.07 x 10 to the -13th cu cm/molecule/s at 730 Torr with helium as the diluent gas. Falloff behavior occurred at lower pressures with SF6 or N2 as the diluent gas. Extrapolated zero pressure rate constants were determined and correspond to an Arrhenius activation energy of E/R = -710 K.