Kinetics of O(1D) + H2O and O(1D) + H2: absolute rate coefficients and O(3P) yields between 227 and 453 K

The rate coefficients for the crucial atmospheric reactions of O((1)D) with H(2)O and H(2), k(1) and k(2), were measured over a wide temperature range using O((1)D) detection based on the chemiluminescence reaction of O((1)D) with C(2)H. Analyzing the decays of the chemiluminescence intensities yielded a value for k(1)(T) of (1.70 x 10(-10)exp[36 K/T]) cm(3) s(-1). Multiplying or dividing k(1)(T) by a factor f(T) = 1.04 exp(5.59(|1 K/T- 1/287|)), gives the 95% confidence limits; our new determination, in good agreement with previous studies, further reduces the uncertainty in k(1). An extended study of k(2) yielded a temperature independent rate constant of (1.35 +/- 0.05) x 10(-10) cm(3) s(-1). This precise value, based on an extended set of determinations with very low scatter, is significantly larger than the current recommendations, as were two other recent k(2) determinations. Secondly, the fractions of O((1)D) quenched to O((3)P) by H(2)O and H(2), k(1b)/k(1) and k(2b)/k(2), were precisely determined from fits to chemiluminescence decays. A temperature-independent value for k(1b)/k(1) of 0.010 +/- 0.003 was found. For the quenching fraction k(2b)/k(2) a value of 0.007 +/- 0.007 was obtained at room temperature. Both determinations are significantly smaller than values and upper limits from previous studies.