Abstract: The kinetics of Palladium(II) catalyzed oxidation of ethylene glycol by sodium periodate in acidic medium has been studied in the temperature range 30-45 0C. The reaction is carried out in the presence of mercuric acetate as a scavenger for iodide ion. The rate shows first order kinetics with respect to the oxidant i.e., sodium periodate and Pd(II) for ethylene glycol while zero order kinetics with respect to substrate is observed. Negligible effect of mercuric acetate, and ionic strength of the medium was observed and the reaction showed negative effect with respect to [Cl¯] and [H+] on the reaction rate. A suitable mechanism in conformity with the kinetic observations has been proposed and the thermodynamic parameters computed.

Keywords: Kinetics, Pd(II), oxidation, acidic sodium periodate.