Shriver & Atkins: Inorganic Chemistry 5e
Chapter 26
A catalyst in action
The cobalt species are useful catalysts. In this case, the oxidation of the tartrate (2,3-dihydroxybutanedioate) ion is accomplished using hydrogen peroxide with cobalt(II) as a catalyst.
C4O6H42-(aq) → 2CO2(g) + 2HCO2-(aq) + 2H+(aq) + 2e-
H2O2(aq) + 2H+(aq) + 2e-→ 2H2O(l)
The green intermediate is believed to be a superoxo-bridged dimeric species. Most accounts claim that the final state of the cobalt is cobalt(II) but it is much more likely to be a cobalt(III) species.
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