Formation of formaldehyde and methanol from the reactions of H atoms with solid CO at 10–20 K

Abstract

The reaction of H atoms with solid CO molecules was studied. The solid CO film deposited on the cold head of the cryocooler was reacted with H atoms by spraying the plasma-activated hydrogen gas over the surface of the sample. After the reaction, temperature-programmed mass spectra of the sample were measured. The formation of formaldehyde and methanol has been confirmed, i.e. the occurrence of consecutive H atom addition reactions, CO → HCO → HCHO → HCHOH → CH 3OH. The rather low yield of the reaction products suggests either the small rate constants of the H atom addition reactions to CO and/or the occurrence of the hydrogen abstraction reaction H + HCO → H 2 + CO.