KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF CONVERSION OF CARCINOGEN HEXAVALENT CR(VI) TO CR(III) BY REDUCTION WITH ASCORBATE

To asses the therapeutic efficacy of ascorbic acid in preventing toxic and mutagenic effects of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) the Kinetics and mechanism of reduction of hexavalent chromium by ascorbate has been studied. Th e reduction was done under pseudo first order condition by taking an e xcess of ascorbate over hexavalent chromium species. The rise of absor bance of Cr(III) was monitored at 578 nm. The observed rate constants then determined showed a dependence on both ascorbate concentration an d pH as well. The bearing of these observations on the mechanism of re duction of hexavalent chromium is discussed in order to explain this.