N2O5 oxidizes chloride to Cl2 in acidic atmospheric aerosol.
Molecular chlorine (Cl2) is an important yet poorly understood trace constituent of the lower atmosphere. Although a number of mechanisms have been proposed for the conversion of particle-bound chloride (Cl-) to gas-phase Cl2, the detailed processes involved remain uncertain. Here, we show that reaction of dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) with aerosol-phase chloride yields Cl2 at low pH (<2) and should constitute an important halogen activation pathway in the atmosphere.
Roberts
James M
JM
Chemical Sciences Division, Earth System Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Boulder, CO 80305, USA. James.M.Roberts@noaa.gov
Osthoff
Hans D
HD
Brown
Steven S
SS
Ravishankara
A R
AR