Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction between silver(III) and thiourea in aqueous alkaline media
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
1-1-1988
Abstract
The tetrahydroxoargentate(III) ion, Ag(OH)4-, is rapidly reduced by thiourea (tu) in accordance with the three term rate law rate = {k1+(k2+k3[OH-])[tu]}[AgIII] where k1 = 1.08 s-1, k2 = 1.46 x 103 M-1 s-1, and k3 = 2.02 x 103 M-2 s-1. The k1 path occurs via the rate-determining aquation of Ag(OH)4- while the other two paths involve axial attack of thiourea on silver. The higher values of k2 and k3 compared to the ethylenediamine reaction, which obeys the same rate law, is a reflection of the greater nucleophilicity of tu. Following the redox reaction, solutions become brown in a reaction that obeys pseudo-first-order kinetics. Similar behaviour is observed when tu is replaced by Na2S or thio-acetamide and when AgI reacts with any of these sulphur containing compounds. We attribute this process to the AgI promoted formation of sulphide species which eventually precipitate as Ag2S. © 1988.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Polyhedron
Volume
7
Issue
24
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Kirschenbaum, Louis J., and Rama K. Panda. "Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction between silver(III) and thiourea in aqueous alkaline media." Polyhedron 7, 24 (1988). doi: 10.1016/S0277-5387(00)83902-9.