Re:Ask HN: What interesting problems are you working on?
by dr_dshiv on Friday September 16, 2022 @09:09PM
(#32873902)
I have heard that terpenes are a major source for the production of HO (hydroxides), which only last for a microsecond, but are responsible for transforming most methane molecules to CO2. Did I get that right? (Also, is my vape pen making a difference?)
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Re:Ask HN: What interesting problems are you working on?
by gumby on Friday September 16, 2022 @11:27PM
(#32874508)
Yes, hydroxyls are a primary source of methane oxidation over land. They are very corrosive and so reactive that they almost immediately participate in some reaction as soon as they are created.
The reactions over the ocean are largely Cl, which shouldn’t surprise anyone who has ever visited the seaside. It’s also quite reactive, but the CH4 oxidation is a little more complex.