Kinetics and mechanisms of aqueous chlorine reactions with chlorite ion in the presence of chloride ion and acetic acid/acetate buffer.

The kinetics and mechanism of the reaction between Cl(2) and ClO(2)(-) are studied in acetate buffer by stopped-flow spectrometric observation of ClO(2) formation. The reaction is first-order in [Cl(2)] and [ClO(2)(-)], with a rate constant of k(1) = (5.7 +/- 0.2) x 10(5) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) at 25.0 degrees C. Nucleophilic attack by ClO(2)(-) on Cl(2), with Cl(+) transfer to form ClOClO and Cl(-), is proposed as the rate-determining step. A possible two-step electron-transfer mechanism for Cl(2) and ClO(2)(-) is refuted by the lack of ClO(2) suppression. The yield of ClO(2) is much less than 100%, due to the rapid reactions of the metastable ClOClO intermediate via two competing pathways. In one path, ClOClO reacts with ClO(2)(-) to form 2ClO(2) and Cl(-), while in the other path it hydrolyzes to give ClO(3)(-) and Cl(-). The observed rate constant also is affected by acetate-assisted hydrolysis of Cl(2). The rate of Cl(2) loss is suppressed as the concentration of Cl(-) increases, due to the formation of Cl(3)(-). In excess ClO(2)(-), a much slower formation of ClO(2) is observed after the initial Cl(2) reaction, due to the presence of HOCl, which reacts with H(+) and Cl(-) to re-form steady-state levels of Cl(2).