Periodic Table

The Haber-Weiss cycle consists of the following two reactions :

H2O2 + OH. arrow right H2O + O2- + H+ andH2O2 + O2- arrow right O2 + OH- + OH.

The second reaction achieved notoriety as a possible source of hydroxyl radicals. However, it has a negligible rate constant. It is believed that iron(III) complexes can catalyze this reaction: first Fe(III) is reduced by superoxide, followed by oxidation by dihydrogenperoxide. See also Fenton reaction.






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