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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Thermochemical Studies of NiII and ZnII Ternary Complexes Using Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry

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Published on: June 8, 2022

Ephemeral collision complexes mediate chemically termolecular transformations that affect system chemistry.

Michael P Burke¹, Stephen J Klippenstein²

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Data Science Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA.

Nature Chemistry

|October 25, 2017

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Chemically termolecular reactions, previously overlooked, are now shown to be significant in combustion. Reactions involving H+O2 collision complexes with radicals impact flame speeds, revealing new kinetic pathways.

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Area of Science:

Chemical kinetics
Combustion chemistry
Atmospheric chemistry

Background:

Termolecular association reactions typically involve inert bath gases for energy transfer.
Ephemeral collision complexes are generally not considered to undergo chemical reactions with a third molecule.
Previous studies suggested chemically termolecular reactions were unimportant in gas-phase systems.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the significance of chemically termolecular reactions involving ephemeral collision complexes.
To determine the role of H+O2 collision complexes in combustion kinetics.
To assess the impact of these reactions on flame propagation speeds.

Main Methods:

Utilized ab initio master equation simulations.
Employed kinetic-transport simulations.
Analyzed reaction data under common combustion conditions.

Main Results:

Reactions of H+O2 collision complexes with other radicals are major kinetic pathways in combustion.
These reactions significantly influence flame propagation speeds.
The findings challenge previous assumptions about the unimportance of chemically termolecular reactions.

Conclusions:

Chemically termolecular reactions mediated by ephemeral collision complexes are crucial in combustion.
These pathways likely play a significant role in planetary atmospheres as well.
Revisiting the role of these reactions is essential for accurate combustion and atmospheric modeling.