KINETICS OF OXIDATION OF AZIDE ION BY BIS(DIHYDROGENTELLURATO)CUPRATE(III) AND BIS(DIHYDROGENTELLURATO)ARGENTATE(III) IN ALKALINE MEDIA

The kinetics of the oxidation of azide ion by bis(dihydrogentellurato) -cuprate (III) and -argentate (III) has been studied in alkaline media . The rate of the reaction increases with increasing azide ion but dec reases with the increasing of alkali concentration. The reactions proc eed through initial 1:1 complex formation between the reactants follow ed by decomposition of the complex to give nitrogen. Copper (III) is r educed by the substrate in a one-electron process, whereas one-step tw o-electron reduction has been shown to occur with silver (III). Thermo dynamic parameters associated with the complex-formation step and the activation parameters for the decomposition step have been evaluated. The mechanism of the reactions is discussed.