Atmospheric chemistry of CHF2CHO: study of the IR and UV-vis absorption cross sections, photolysis, and OH-, Cl-, and NO3-initiated oxidation.

The infrared and ultraviolet-visible absorption cross sections, effective quantum yield of photolysis, and OH, Cl, and NO3 reaction rate coefficients of CHF2CHO are reported. Relative rate measurements at 298 +/- 2 K and 1013 +/- 10 hPa gave kOH = (1.8 +/- 0.4) x 10(-12) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) (propane as reference compound), kCl = (1.24 +/- 0.13) x 10(-11) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) (ethane as reference compound), and kNO3 = (5.9 +/- 1.7) x 10(-17) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) (trans-dichloroethene as reference compound). The photolysis of CHF2CHO has been investigated under pseudonatural tropospheric conditions in the European simulation chamber, Valencia, Spain (EUPHORE), and an effective quantum yield of photolysis equal to 0.30 +/- 0.05 over the wavelength range 290-500 nm has been extracted. The tropospheric lifetime of CHF2CHO is estimated to be around 1 day and is determined by photolysis. The observed photolysis rates of CH3CHO, CHF2CHO, and CF3CHO are discussed on the basis of results from quantum chemical calculations.