Activation parameters of ferryl ion reactions in aqueous acid solutions

The temperature dependence of the oxidation kinetics of Fe²⁺ by O₃ at pH 0–3 was studied by stopped-flow technique in the temperature range 5–40°C. Activation parameters of the reactions involved in formation and decay of the ferryl ion (iron(IV)), FeO²⁺ are determined. The reaction of Fe²⁺ + FeO²⁺ was found to branch into two channels forming iron(III)-dimer, Fe(OH)₂Fe⁴⁺, and Fe³⁺. The yield of the dimer, Fe(OH)₂Fe⁴⁺, increases with temperature on the expense of the Fe³⁺ yield. On the basis of the overall rate constant and relative yield of Fe(OH)₂Fe⁴⁺ the activation energy is determined for both channels. The activation parameters of the hydrolysis of the ferryl ion and its reaction with H₂O₂ were also determined. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 17–24, 1997.