The effect of vibrational excitation of H2 and of OH on the rate of the reaction H2+OH→H2O+H

The reaction between the hydroxyl radical and H2 has been studied at room temperature using a discharge flow apparatus equipped for EPR detection of small, free radicals. Vibrationally excited H2 was generated using electric discharge techniques. The rate of the reaction H2+OH→H2O+H was shown to be enhanced by a factor of 155 when H2 was excited into its first vibrational state. Earlier work had shown that the rate of this reaction was increased by less than 50% when OH was excited to either its first or second vibrational state.