Kinetics and mechanisms of bromine chloride reactions with bromite and chlorite ions.

Chloride ion catalyzes the reactions of HOBr with bromite and chlorite ions in phosphate buffer (p[H(+)] 5 to 7). Bromine chloride is generated in situ in small equilibrium concentrations by the addition of excess Cl(-) to HOBr. In the BrCl/ClO(2)(-) reaction, where ClO(2)(-) is in excess, a first-order rate of formation of ClO(2) is observed that depends on the HOBr concentration. The rate dependencies on ClO(2)(-), Cl(-), H(+), and buffer concentrations are determined. In the BrCl/BrO(2)(-) reaction where BrCl is in pre-equilibrium with the excess species, HOBr, the loss of absorbance due to BrO(2)(-) is followed. The dependencies on Cl(-), HOBr, H(+), and HPO(4)(2)(-) concentrations are determined for the BrCl/BrO(2)(-) reaction. In the proposed mechanisms, the BrCl/ClO(2)(-) and BrCl/BrO(2)(-) reactions proceed by Br(+) transfer to form steady-state levels of BrOClO and BrOBrO, respectively. The rate constant for the BrCl/ClO(2)(-) reaction [k(Cl)(2)]is 5.2 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) and for the BrCl/BrO(2)(-) reaction [k(Br)(2)]is 1.9 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1). In the BrCl/ClO(2)(-) case, BrOClO reacts with ClO(2)(-) to form two ClO(2) radicals and Br(-). However, the hydrolysis of BrOBrO in the BrCl/BrO(2)(-) reaction leads to the formation of BrO(3)(-) and Br(-).