Reaction of N2O5 with H2O on bulk liquids and on particles and the effect of dissolved HNO3

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 24; no. 9; pp. 1087 - 1090
• Main Author: Hanson, D. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.1997; American Geophysical Union
• Subjects: Atmospheric composition. Chemical and photochemical reactions; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Physics of the high neutral atmosphere; Hydrolysis; Temperature dependence; Laboratory study; Nitrogen pentoxide; Reaction probability; Chemical reaction; Stratosphere; Stratospheric aerosol; Uptake; Nitric acid; Heterogeneous reaction; Sulfuric acid
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/97GL00917

Measurements of the reaction probability (γ) of N2O5 on ∼60 wt% H2SO4 were performed at 201 to 230 K on bulk liquids and at 230 K on aerosol particles. The bulk and aerosol results are in good agreement (less than 10% difference). The measurements on bulk liquids show very little change in γ with temperature from 201 to 230 K. HNO3 was added to the bulk liquids at ∼201 K and to aerosol particles at 230 K (the H2SO4‐content was decreased to keep water activity approximately constant). For [HNO3] levels of 1‐to‐15 wt %, the N2O5 reaction probability decreased by ∼15% from that measured on HNO3‐free 60 wt% H2SO4. For 60 wt% H2SO4 aerosol in the stratosphere ([HNO3] ∼0.3 wt%) the decrease in the N2O5 hydrolysis reaction probability due to HNO3 would be small.