Kinetic mechanism for the formation of ClNO2 from the reaction of gaseous N2O5 with NaCl solution

The uptake of N2O5 by moist NaCl aerosol has been shown to lead to the formation of ClNO2 and HNO3 in smog chamber experiments. Model calculations indicate that the formation of ClNO2 may be an important source of atomic Cl under the tropospheric conditions of the high northern latitudes (Zetzsch and Behnke, 1992). Halogen atoms (Cl and Br) may also be the cause of tropospheric ozone degradation during the arctic spring (Barrie et al., 1988; Sturges and Shaw, 1993; Jobson et al., 1994). Here we present results from wetted-wall flowtube experiments at various concentrations of NaCl and NaNO3. The yield of ClNO2 after N2O5 injection as well as the uptake of ClNO2 are measured at 18+-0.5 degrees C.