Abstract
The reaction between sodium hypochlorite and potassium cyanate in the presence of sodium hydroxide has been examined. The main products are chloride, and carbonate ions and nitrogen; but, especially if much hypochlorite is present, some nitrate is formed as well. The rate of reaction is proportional to the cyanate and hypochlorite concentrations, but inversely proportional to the hydroxide concentration: the rate constant is 5.45 × 10−4 min.−1 at 65 °C, at an ionic strength of 2.2. The rate constant increases somewhat as the ionic strength rises from 1.7 to 3.5. The effect of temperature makes the apparent activation energy 25 kcal./gm-molecule. The kinetics of the reaction suggest that the slow step is really a reaction of hypochlorous acid and cyanate ions, and possible intermediate products of this reaction are suggested. Allowing for the different extent of hydrolysis of hypochlorite at different temperatures, the true activation energy is found to be 15 kcal./gm-mol., which is consistent with the observed rate of reaction.
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