Direct Investigation of the Reaction CH2(X3B1) + O(3P) with the LMR

The reaction has been studied at room temperature in an isothermal discharge flow reactor. Methylene‐radicals and oxygen‐atoms have been monitored with a Far‐Infrared Laser Magnetic Resonance spectrometer. The rate constant of reaction (1) was evaluated from the pseudo first order decay of CH2in the presence of a large excess of O‐atoms. The influence of side and consecutive reactions has been investigated in a computer simulation of the reaction system. — The final result for the rate constant of reaction (1) is The experimental value is compared to theoretical predictions for the high pressure recombination rate constant of CH2and O.