The silver ion-catalysed oxidation of the trisbipyridylruthenium(II) complex by the peroxydisulphate anion

Abstract

Rate equations for the disappearance of the trisbipyridylruthenium(II) complex have been determined for conditions where a solution containing both this complex ion and argentous ion is mixed with a solution containing the peroxydisulphate ion. Mechanisms, involving the initial formation of a weak 1:1 complex between the argentous and peroxydisulphate ions, are suggested to account for the unusual, differing, rate equations found in aqueous media containing sulphuric acid or ammonium nitrate. Activation energies of the rate parameters are also determined.