Kinetic Studies of Chromic Acid Oxidation of Glyoxal

The kinetics of chromic acid oxidation of glyoxal is reported. The reaction is first-order in glyoxal and indicates a gradual change from a first-order to a zero-order dependence on acidity. The kinetic nature of this reaction has been studied and the rate law is consistent with a proposed mechanism as follows; rate = kK_b, KCr⁺⁶]Gx]H⁺]/(l+0.238H⁺]) at 25°C. The product analysis indicates that formic acid is the oxidation product under similar kinetic condition.