Kinetic and Mechanistic Aspects of Redox Reactions of Tellurium(Iv) and Tellurium(Vi)

Many kinetic and mechanistic studies are reported on the direct and transition metal ion catalysed oxidation of tellurium(IV) with oxidants like persulphate, periodate, chromium(VI), hexacyanoferrate(III), cerium(IV), manganese(III), cobalt(III) etc. Similar studies on the reduction of tellurium(VI) by different reductants are much fewer. An attempt has been made to discuss in brief up-to-date information available on the nature of tellurium(IV) and tellurium(VI) species as well as kinetic and mechanistic studies on the direct and catalysed oxidation and reduction reactions of tellurium(IV) and tellurium(VI) respectively. The majority of reactions concerned with the oxidation of tellurium(IV) to tellurium(VI) seems to prefer a complementary path to a non-complementary one, in accordance with Schaffer's principle of equivalent change.