Kinetics of Oxidation of Oxyhaemoglobin by Benzoquinone

Abstract

Kinetics of the oxidation of oxyhaemoglobin by benzoquinone has been studied by spectrophotometrically. The specific rate of reaction is 3.07 × 10² M^-1 s^-1 at 25 ºC (pH 6). The kinetic parameters such as frequency factor, energy of activation and entropy of activation are found to be 1.206 × 10⁶ s^-1, 20.51 kJ mol^-1 and -136.79 JK^-1 mol^-1, respectively. The effect of pH and the probable mechanism for the reaction are also studied.