Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of aquachromium(III) with l-ascorbic acid in aqueous media

The kinetics of the reaction of l-ascorbic acid (H2A) with aquachromium(III) has been studied over the range 0.04 H2A]T 0.16 mol dm–3, 3.5 pH 6.0, 25.0 t 50.0C, 0.03 I 1.0 mol dm–3 (KNO3) and 0% MeOH] 20% (v/v). The reaction takes place via an outer-sphere association between Cr3+/CrOH2+ and H2A, followed by transformation of the outer- into an inner-sphere complex by slow interchange. The anation rate constants for Cr3+ and CrOH2+ species (k1 and k2) at 25C and I=1.0moldm–3 (KNO3) are 1.68×10–4 and 2.14×10–4s–1, respectively. H and S for the k1 and k2 paths are 27.0±2kJmol–1, –227±5J K–1mol–1 and 57.2± 4kJmol–1, –123±14JK–1mol–1, respectively. Anation of Cr(H2O)3+6 and Cr(H2O)5OH2+ follow an Ia path.