Thermal rate constants are calculated explicitly for critical postshock oxygen-hydrogen reactions over the temperature range 300 - 5000 K. Substantial differences both from simple exponential behavior and from values used in shock studies are documented. The influence of internal energy on the rate constants is studied. Transition state theory is used to determine rate constants for vibrationally cold reactants. The results of previous studies of rotational effects for selected reactions are applied to the astrophysical situation. The influence of fine structure on reactivity is examined. Nonthermal rotational, vibrational, and fine structure populations are all shown to have a bearing on the reaction rates for important reactions in shocked interstellar clouds.
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Wagner et al. (1987) studied this question.