KINETICS OF THE CUPRIC ACETATE CATALYZED HYDROGENATION OF DICHROMATE IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION

In aqueous solution, cupric acetate was found to act as a homogeneous catalyst for the reduction of dichromate by hydrogen, i.e.[Formula: see text]

The paper describes a kinetic study of this reaction. Rates were determined at temperatures between 80° and 140 °C. and hydrogen partial pressures up to 27 atmospheres. The rate is independent of the dichromate concentration but varies directly with the partial pressure of hydrogen and is nearly proportional to the concentration of cupric acetate. The activation energy is 24,600 calories per mole. Cupric acetate, apparently acting as a true catalyst, activates the hydrogen through formation of a complex with it. An extension of the mechanism proposed earlier for the reaction of cupric acetate itself with hydrogen also accounts for the kinetics of the dichromate reaction.