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Accretion Product Formation from Self‐ and Cross‐Reactions of RO 2 Radicals in the Atmosphere
Author(s) -
Berndt Torsten,
Scholz Wiebke,
Mentler Bernhard,
Fischer Lukas,
Herrmann Hartmut,
Kulmala Markku,
Hansel Armin
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201710989
Subject(s) - radical , atmosphere (unit) , accretion (finance) , chemistry , yield (engineering) , photochemistry , atmospheric chemistry , organic chemistry , astrophysics , thermodynamics , physics , ozone
Hydrocarbons are emitted into the Earth's atmosphere in very large quantities by human and biogenic activities. Their atmospheric oxidation processes almost exclusively yield RO 2 radicals as reactive intermediates whose atmospheric fate is not yet fully unraveled. Herein, we show that gas‐phase reactions of two RO 2 radicals produce accretion products composed of the carbon backbone of both reactants. The rates for accretion product formation are very high for RO 2 radicals bearing functional groups, competing with those of the corresponding reactions with NO and HO 2 . This pathway, which has not yet been considered in the modelling of atmospheric processes, can be important, or even dominant, for the fate of RO 2 radicals in all areas of the atmosphere. Moreover, the vapor pressure of the formed accretion products can be remarkably low, characterizing them as an effective source for the secondary organic aerosol.