This thesis focuses on the laboratory studies conducted to study the kinetics and mechanism of gas phase reactions of chlorine atoms and the six difluorotoluene isomers. The experimental designs and instrument settings for the procedures are described in Chapter 2. All experiments were conducted in an isolated Pyrex glass reaction cell and reactions were driven by formation of chlorine atoms through photolysis. Gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC/FID) and the relative rate method was used to determine the chlorine atoms relative rate constants of the reactions. The reaction mechanism was elucidated by identification of the reaction products and kinetic isotope effect measurements using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry
