Initial Steps in the Reaction of H2O2 with Fe2+ and Fe3+ Ions: Inconsistency in the Free Radical Theory

Mordechai L. Kremer*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Consideration of the changes in free energy shows that the assumed initial steps in reactions of H2O2 with Fe2+ and Fe3+ in the free radical theory are not consistent. The free radical theory is unable to account for the Fe3+-initiated decomposition of H2O2 or for oxidations by it. In reactions with Fe2+ ions at high [H2O2], where O2 evolution reaches a limit, such limit is not foreseen by the free radical model. At lower [H2O2], because of a disallowed substitution in the equation used, the interpretation is not valid. It appears, therefore, that free radicals derived from H2O2 do not provide a suitable basis for constructing models for these reactions. Non-radical models are more successful in interpreting experimental results.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)171-175
Number of pages5
JournalReactions
Volume4
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the author.

Keywords

  • catalysis
  • Fe
  • Fe
  • Fenton reaction
  • free energy
  • free radicals
  • HO

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