Oxidation of formaldehyde by copper(II) in aqueous solution

Abstract

Copper(II) was found to oxidize formaldehyde in aqueous solutions according to the following reaction[Formula: see text]Rates were determined at temperatures between 130 and 166.5 °C. The rate law was found to be of the form[Formula: see text]where k1 = 1.9 × 10−4 M−1 s−1 and k2 = 2.05 × 10−8 s−1 in 0.125 M acetate solutions at 160 °C. The apparent activation energy is 33 600 cal/mole. The reaction mechanism suggested includes the formation of two bridged intermediates[Formula: see text]which account for the acid-dependent and acid-independent reaction paths.