Rate Constants for the Reactions of XO₃⁻(H₂O)n (X = C, HC, and N) and NO₃⁻(HNO₃)n with H₂SO₄:  Implications for Atmospheric Detection of H₂SO₄

Relative rate constants for the reactions of CO 3 - (H 2 O) n, HCO 3 - (H 2 O) n, NO 3 - (H 2 O) n, and NO 3 - (HNO 3 ) n with H 2 SO 4 have been measured for n = 0−2, 0−2, 0−3, and 0−3, respectively. All rate constants have been found to occur in the ratio expected for the collisional values. This strongly indicates that the reactions proceed at the collision rate, and we assign absolute rate constants on the basis of this assumption. The present results show that all ions previously used for chemical ionization detection of H 2 SO 4 concentrations in the atmosphere react rapidly, as has been previously assumed.