Kinetics of Some Gas Phase Elementary Reactions of Boron Monofluoride

Rate coefficients for some elementary bimolecular reactions involving the molecule BF have been measured in a gas phase flowtube facility. The BF + C12 reaction was studied from 295 to 881 K. The rate coefficient is temperature independent with a value of 1.4 + or - 0.2 x 10 to the -11th power cc/molecule-sec. Reaction of BF with O2 was studied between 675 and 1033 K. The inferred Arrhenius rate is 1.8 x 10 to the -11th power exp(-7240/T) cc/molecule-sec. Room temperature rate coefficients for BF + O and BF + NO2 were determined to be 1.8 + or - 0.4 x 10 to the -10th power and 2.1 + or - 0.3 x 10 to the -13th power/molecule-sec., respectively. Reaction of BF was undetectable upon mixing with H2O, HF, CO2, NO, N2O, SO2, or CH3C1. Upper limits are given for rate coefficients for these reactions. Boron monofluoride proved to be less reactive than other simple boron species which have been studied recently, namely, boron atoms and boron monoxide. Results for BF are compared with available rate information for reactions of isoelectronic CO and N2.