An experimental study of the reaction kinetics of C2(X1Σg+) with hydrocarbons (CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6 and C3H8) over the temperature range 24-300 K: Implications for the atmospheres of Titan and the Giant Planets

The reactivity of C2(X1Σ+g) with simple saturated (CH4, C2H6 and C3H8) and unsaturated (C2H2 and C2H4) hydrocarbons has been studied in the gas phase over the temperature range 24-300 K using the CRESU (Cinétique de Réaction en Ecoulement Supersonique Uniforme or Reaction Kinetics in a Uniform Supersonic Flow) technique. All reactions have been found to be very rapid in this temperature range and the rate coefficients are typically ⩾10−10 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 with the exception of methane for which the rate coefficient is one order of magnitude lower: ∼10−11 cm3 molecule−1 s−1. These results have been analyzed in terms of potential destruction sources of C2(X1Σ+g) in the atmospheres of Titan and the Giant Planets. It appears that the rate coefficient of the reaction 1C2 + CH4 should be updated with our new data and that reactions with C2H2, C2H4 and C2H6 should also be included in the existing photochemical models.