Kinetics and Mechanism of Oxidation of Ethylglcol by Alkaline Hexacyanoferrate(III) Ions

Abstract

Kinetics of oxidation of ethylglycol by hexacyanoferrate(III) ions in aqueous alkaline medium has been reported. The reaction is first order with respect to hydroxide ion and substrate. The reaction also shows nearly first order kinetics at lower concentrations of hexacyanoferrate(III) ions which tends towards zero order at its
higher concentrations. The course of reaction has been considered
to proceed through the formation of activated complex between
KFe(CN)^2–₆ and substrate anion which decomposes into product and
KFe(CN)^3–₆.