Oscillatory Oxidation of Malonic Acid by Bromate

In earlier communications we described the re­ sults of an investigation of the main products of the oscillating oxidation of malonic acid by bromate 1. The products were identified as monobromomalonic acid, dibromoacetic acid and C02 . Also, the relative quantities of the two organic products were deter­ mined. Current hypothesis on the mechanism of the reac­ tion pathway under oscillating conditions stress the importance of the decarboxylation step of the or­ ganic acid as well as the oxidation step of bromate ions in the function of the oscillation (see 1. c. 2_4). However, it is not known to what extent these reac­ tion schemes fit the overall pathway. Therefore, we analysed quantitatively the relationship between the amount of bromate used and the amount of C 02 produced under stationary oscillating conditions, the results of which are reported in this paper.