Quantitative study of the formation of inorganic chemical species following corona discharge—I. Production of HNO2 and HNO3 in a composition-controlled, humid atmosphere

Nitrous and nitric acid formed after exposure to a corona discharge in a composition-controlled humid atmosphere were collected in an aqueous liquid phase at room temperature. It was found that the production of NO2− and NO2− ions at the trace level increased linearly with the corona discharge time, electric current intensity and quantity of electricity. The relative amount of nitrates formed was larger than that of nitrites.