Abstract
The kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of D-galactose by chromium(VI) in the absence and presence of cerium(IV) and manganese(II) were studied spectrophotometrically in aqueous perchloric acid media. The reaction is first order in both [D-galactose] and [H+]. The cerium(IV) inhibits the oxidation path, whereas manganese(II) catalyzes the reactions. The observed inhibitory role of cerium(IV) suggests the formation of chromium(IV) as an intermediate. In the manganese(II) catalyzed path, the D-galactose-manganese(II) complex was considered to be an active oxidant. In this path, the complex forms a ternary chromate ester with chromium(IV) which subsequently undergoes acid catalyzed redox decomposition (one-step three-electron transfer: Indian J. Chem., 2004, vol. 42A, p. 1060; Colloids and Surfaces, 2001, vol. 193, p. 1) in the rate determining step. On the basis of kinetic data, the mechanism of D-galactose oxidation is proposed for parent, the manganese(II) catalyzed and cerium(IV) - inhibited reactions. The activation parameters E (a) = 59 kJ Delta H (#) = 57 kJ mol(-1), and Delta S (#) = -119 J K-1 mol(-1) are calculated and discussed. Reaction products are also examined.