Experimental detection of hydrogen trioxide

Area of Science:

• Atmospheric Chemistry
• Chemical Physics
• Mass Spectrometry

Background:

• Hydrogen trioxide (HO3) is a theoretically important but experimentally elusive atmospheric intermediate.
• Previous research has struggled with the direct detection of HO3 due to its transient nature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To unequivocally detect and characterize hydrogen trioxide (HO3).
• To confirm the existence and stability of HO3 under laboratory conditions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized neutralization-reionization mass spectrometry.
• Employed neutralization-reionization/collisionally activated dissociation mass spectrometry.
• Used protonated ozone (HO3+) as the precursor for HO3 generation.

Main Results:

• Achieved unambiguous detection of hydrogen trioxide (HO3).
• Confirmed HO3 as a relatively stable species.
• Determined a lifetime exceeding 10^-6 seconds at ambient temperature.
• Established the H-O-O-O connectivity within the molecule.

Conclusions:

• The direct detection of hydrogen trioxide (HO3) is now experimentally validated.
• HO3 is a more stable species than previously assumed, with implications for atmospheric models.
• This breakthrough opens new avenues for studying its role in atmospheric reactions.