KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF OXIDATION OF L-ASCORBIC ACID BY CHROMIUM (VI)

The kinetics of oxidation of L-ascorbic acid by potassium chromate was studied as a function of pH, L-ascorbic acid concentration and temperature using the spectrophotometric technique. The rate of reaction is first order with respect to the concentration of each reactant and increases as [H+] increases. The kinetic data indicate involvement of the monoprotonated ascorbate species (HA-) in the redox process. A mechanism involving the formation of chromium (VI)- ascorbate intermediate is a rate-determining step followed by a redox step was suggested. The activation enthalpy and activation entropy changes for the reaction have been calculated to be ΔH*= 69 kJmol-1 and ΔS*= -209 JK-1 mol-1, respectively.