The role of metal species in combustion processes, whether as fuels, a
dditives, or, (often toxic) impurities is described. Optimization and
control of these, and other, high-temperature processes requires under
standing and knowledge of the kinetics of the individual gas-phase rea
ctions involved, leading to meaningful models. Our experimental techni
ques to study the reactions in isolation from each other are discussed
. The equipment used allows measurements in the approximately 300-1800
K temperature range, at pressures from 10-1000 mbar. Semi-empirical t
echniques have been developed to predict the temperature dependence of
the rate coefficients for further reactions. Recent findings show tha
t association and insertion reactions can play an important role in ca
ses where abstraction was thought to be the operative mechanism.