Mechanism of L-ascorbic acid oxidation and dehydro-L-ascorbic acid reduction on a mercury electrode. I. Acid medium

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Abstract
A polarographic study of the oxidation mechanism of L-ascorbic acid and of the reduction mechanism of dehydro-L-ascorbic acid was carried out in an acid medium.For L-ascorbic acid, the oxidation process involves a two electron transfer and obeys the overall reaction[Formula: see text]The polarographic curve shows that the limiting current is governed by diffusion. On the rising portion of the wave, the two electron oxidation process consists of two consecutive one electron transfers, the second being the rate determining step (rds). The reaction orders, together with the Tafel slopes, were calculated.The reduction of dehydro-L-ascorbic acid at the limiting current is kinetically controlled and involves a two electron transfer. The reaction kinetic pathways were studied and the reaction orders and Tafel slope were calculated. It is deduced that, for low overvoltages, the second one electron transfer is the rate determining step.

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