It is well known that neutral or weakly acid solutions of alkali chlorates show no appreciable oxidizing power. However, it has been observed by K.A. Hofmann (Ber. 45,3329, 1912; 46, 1567, 1913) that, in the presence of very minute amounts of osmium tetroxide, the oxygen becomes readily available. Chlorate solutions activated in this way will, for example, oxidize hydrazine to free nitrogen, potassium iodide to iodine, and arsenic to arsenious acid.
Hoffman found that, in the oxidation of hydrazine sulfate, nitrogen is liberated quantitatively according to the equation [...].
The investigation of the mechanism of this reaction has been taken as the subject of this thesis.
Download Ebook The catalytic effect of osmium tetroxide on the oxidation of hydrazine by potassium chlorate