title: N2O5 oxidizes chloride to Cl2 in acidic atmospheric aerosol.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Sciences Division, Earth System Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Boulder, CO 80305, USA. James.M.Roberts@noaa.gov
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Hans D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Osthoff
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ravishankara