Direct Determination of the Rate Constant for the Reaction CH₂ + H → CH + H₂

The reaction magnified image was investigated at room temperature in an isothermal discharge flow reactor with laser magnetic resonance detection of CH 2 and CH. Direct measurements of the decay of CH 2 in the presence of an excess of H‐atoms yielded a rate constant of magnified image Combined with the known rate constant for the reverse reaction CH + H 2 + CH 2 + H the heat of formation of CH 2 was found to be magnified image