Equilibrium constant for the reversible reaction ClO + O2 - ClO-O2

It is shown here that the equilibrium constant for the reversible reaction ClO + O2 - ClO-O2 at stratospheric temperatures must be at least three orders of magnitude less than the current NASA upper limit. The new upper limit greatly diminishes the possible role of ClO-O2 in the chlorine-photosensitized decomposition of O3. Nevertheless, it does not preclude the possibility that it is a significant reservoir of ClO, as well as a possible reactant, at low temperatures characteristic of polar vortices.