Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of formaldehyde by hexacyanoferrate(III) ion

Abstract

The kinetics of the reaction between formaldehyde and hexacyanoferrate(III) ion in alkaline medium has been investigated at four temperatures. The data show that the reaction is rapid initially, then follows a simple first order rate with respect to each of the hexacyanoferrate(III) ion, formaldehyde, and hydroxide ion. Calculations reveal that only 0.27% of the formaldehyde corresponds to the initial rapid reaction; the remaining 99.73% follows the kinetics described. The net rate of the oxidation of formaldehyde as measured by the consumption of hexacyanoferrate(III) ion, is given by[Formula: see text]