Fast disproportionation of hexacyanomanganate(III) in acidic solution. Formation of hexacyanomanganate(IV) and kinetics of its decomposition
When potassium hexacyanomanganate(III) dissolves in acidic solution it rapidly disproportionates into hexacyanomanganate(IV) and Mn(II). Hexacyanomanganate(IV) then slowly decomposes to yield Mn(II) and (CN)2. Kinetics of the latter reaction has been studied. The reaction is found to be first order with respect to [Formula: see text], H+, and Mn(II) concentrations and the experimental rate law has the form v = kobs[Mn(IV)] = (ka + kb[H+] + kc[Mn(II)])[Mn(IV)]. At 40 °C and ionic strength 2.0, ka, kb, and kc values are (1.78 ± 0.01) × 10−4 s−1, (5.97 ± 0.05) × 10−5 s−1 M−1, and (3.40 ± 0.18) × 10−3 s−1 M−1, respectively. A mechanism with three parallel pathways is proposed, the deduced rate law being similar to the experimental one. Activation parameters, ΔH≠and ΔS≠ for the rate constants ka, kb, and kc are also reported.