The hydrocarboxyl radical, HOCO, is an unstable molecular radical important in combustion. It is formed by the reaction of the hydroxyl radical with carbon monoxide. Hydrocarboxyl then breaks up to form carbon dioxide and atomic hydrogen. Much of the carbon dioxide on Earth and Mars has been produced via the hydrocarboxyl radical.[2] HOCO formed from OH and CO initially is in an excited state. It can transfer energy to other molecules such as N2 or other carbon monoxide molecules.[3]

Hydrocarboxyl
Names
Other names
hydroxycarbonyl;hydroxidooxidocarbon(.);formyloxidanyl
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
1901013
ChEBI
ChemSpider
  • [1]: InChI=1S/CHO2/c2-1-3/h(H,2,3)
    Key: ORTFAQDWJHRMNX-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • O=[C]O
Properties
HOC*O
Molar mass 45.0174 g/mol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

The production of this radical during combustion was originally predicted by Ian W. M. Smith and Reinhard Zellner in 1973.[3][4] The HOCO radical was detected in its deuterated form DOCO by Bryce J. Bjork, Thinh Q. Bui, and Jun Ye in 2016.[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Hydrocarboxyl radical".
  2. ^ "Team spots elusive intermediate compound in atmospheric chemistry". PhysOrg. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b Borman, Stu (28 October 2016). "Long-sought atmospheric intermediate detected". Chemical & Engineering News. 94 (43). Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  4. ^ Smith, Ian W. M.; Zellner, Reinhard (1973). "Rate measurements of reactions of OH by resonance absorption. Part 2.—Reactions of OH with CO, C2H4 and C2H2". J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans. 2. 69: 1617–1627. doi:10.1039/f29736901617.
  5. ^ Bjork, B. J.; Bui, T. Q.; Heckl, O. H.; Changala, P. B.; Spaun, B.; Heu, P.; Follman, D.; Deutsch, C.; Cole, G. D.; Aspelmeyer, M.; Okumura, M.; Ye, J. (27 October 2016). "Direct frequency comb measurement of OD + CO -> DOCO kinetics". Science. 354 (6311): 444–448. arXiv:1608.07321. Bibcode:2016Sci...354..444B. doi:10.1126/science.aag1862. PMID 27789837. S2CID 27960601.