Rate constants for the reactions of OH with ethane and some halogen substituted ethanes at 296 K

Absolute rate constants for the reactions of OH radicals with C2H6 and twelve fluorine, chlorine, and bromine substituted ethane compounds are reported. The measurements are made at 296 K and pressures ranging from 100 to 1000 Pa (0.7–7 torr) using a discharge-flow system and laser magnetic resonance detection of OH. The results are similar to those of an earlier work on a series of methane compounds and indicate that the reaction mechanism is the abstraction of an H atom. Thus, completely halogenated molecules are relatively inert. The hydrogen containing molecules react with rate constants ranging from about 3 to 400×10−15 cm3 molecule−1⋅sec−1.