Is
$$\rm OH + CO \longrightarrow CO_2 + H$$
an elementary reaction? How could I tell?
I could break the reaction into
$$\rm OH\ (+ M) \longrightarrow O + H\ (+ M)$$
$$\rm CO + O \longrightarrow CO_2$$
but I don't know if the former is witnessed.
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$\begingroup$ $\ce{OH}$ and $\ce{H}$ arent really stable species that actually exist $\endgroup$– Pritt says Reinstate MonicaCommented May 21, 2017 at 17:05
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1$\begingroup$ The only way is to perform some experiments. Just writing down the stoichiometric equation is not really informative as to the mechanism; for example $\ce{H2 + Cl2\rightarrow 2HCl}$ proceeds by a radical chain reaction and not as implied by this equation. Incidentally, the species H and OH are well known; OH is stable enough to be measure in the atmosphere and is important in atmospheric chemistry. $\endgroup$– porphyrinCommented May 21, 2017 at 18:35
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1$\begingroup$ Another note on OH: while OH can be measured in the atmosphere by very sensitive techniques, it is indeed extremely unstable, and exists at levels of around 0.1 ppt, or 10^6 molecules per cc! It's atmospheric lifetime is on the order of 0.1 seconds, and as it is produced by sunlight, levels drop to very close to zero at night. $\endgroup$– airhuffCommented May 21, 2017 at 19:51
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$\begingroup$ @ airhuff re OH, nevertheless at $0.1$ sec OH is a hugely long lived radical :) $\endgroup$– porphyrinCommented May 22, 2017 at 8:07
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