Classical trajectory studies of the reaction CH4+H→CH3+H2

Abstract

Trajectory data are reported for the reaction CH4+H→CH3+H2, designed to provide information that can be used to test approximate quantitative theories for the dynamics of abstraction reactions. A potential function was devised which properly reflects the nuclear permutation symmetry of the process. Microscopic reaction rate coefficients were obtained as functions of fixed rotational and vibrational energy, and of the angular momentum. The data indicated significant uncoupling between the various modes although, at a minimum, the symmetric stretch is directly coupled to the reaction coordinate at the transition state. The data were used to test the assumption that the total angular momentum, J, may be approximated by the orbital angular momentum, L. L is approximately conserved from the reactant to the saddle point configuration in reactive and nonreactive collisions and may be well approximated by J. The angular momentum about the long axis of the reacting system (equivalent to the K quantum number) is not conserved in either reactive or nonreactive trajectories.