Oxidation of HOSO˙ by O 2 ( 3 Σ g - ): a key reaction deciding the fate of HOSO˙ in the atmosphere.

In the present work, we have studied the oxidation of HOSO˙ by O 2 ( 3 Σ g - ) employing quantum chemical and kinetic calculations. The present work reveals that HOSO˙ + O 2 ( 3 Σ g - ) is a barrierless reaction which proceeds through a stable hydrogen-bonded complex. The estimated atmospheric lifetime of HOSO˙ in the presence of O 2 ( 3 Σ g - ) is found to be several orders of magnitude less compared to the other oxidation paths of HOSO˙, suggesting that the oxidation of HOSO˙ by O 2 ( 3 Σ g - ) might be the most dominant oxidation path of HOSO˙ in the atmosphere.