Referee comments for AR-20324-37

Knattrup and Elm investigated the potential uptake of first-generation oxidation products from atmospherically relevant VOCs on (SA)(base) freshly nucleated clusters using DFT and highlight that dicarboxylic acids could potentially contribute to the growth of ~2nm freshly nucleated particles. This study is important for understanding the cluster-to-particle transition process in sulfuric-based clusters. The manuscript is very well written, and results are of substantial relevance to Aerosol science. Therefore, I recommend publication to Aerosol Research after the following minor comments have been addressed.

1. Line 97: Do the authors mean 298.15 K?
2. The punctuation needs to be checked at some places in the manuscript
3. Most calculations have shown that the binding strength of ammonia and amines to sulfuric acid-based clusters is generally in this order: DMA>MA>NH3. How do you explain that this is not the case when most first-generation oxidation products are involved (see Figure 2)?
4. Beside the free energy of addition, what do the authors think about the atmospheric concentrations of first-generation oxidation products used in this study? Are their concentrations high enough to cause effective changes in the cluster-to-particle transition process in the actual atmospheric environments?

Knattrup and Elm conducted simulations to investigate the potential uptake of sulfuric acid, ammonia, and amines on first-generation oxidation products from common SOA gas precursors. This study is significant for understanding the reaction mechanism of the second addition of sulfuric acid, ammonia, and ammonia on SOA. The work was well-designed, and the paper was well-organized. The results strongly support the authors' conclusions. Overall, I recommend this paper to be published. However, I have a few minor comments I want the authors to consider. 

1. Could you comment on how RH and higher temperature (e.g., PBL condition) will affect your results?
2. Could you explain why you chose (SA)10(AM)10? I am not very familiar with this.
3. It will be good to include the chemical reaction mechanism in the main manuscript to help readers understand the reaction.