Rate constant for the reaction of F‐atoms with trichloroacetic acid

Abstract

Kinetics of the reaction of F‐atoms with trichloroacetic acid was studied at 293 K using a low‐pressure flow reactor. Reactant concentrations were monitored by mass spectrometry combined with molecular beam sampling. The reaction rate constant obtained was k = (4.3 ± 0.8) × 10−11 cm3 molecule−1 s−1. This is an average value determined by the relative method employing four reference reactions of F‐atoms: with 1,1,1‐trichloroethane, ethanol, cyclohexane, and 2‐fluoroethanol, for which rate constant ratios k/kref = 7.4 ± 1.2, 0.24 ± 0.02, 0.28 ± 0.02, and 0.34 ± 0.04, respectively, were obtained. The resultant rate constant is compared with the rate constants for the related fluoro‐substituted acids.