The reaction of Cr(1II) with chelate-forming carboxylate ligands can be monitored at the low ligand concentrations typical of natural waters by chemiluminescence analysis of unreacted Cr(II1). This technique is utilized here for the measurement of Cr(II1) reaction kinetics with oxalate, salicylate, and humic acid over a wider ligand concentration range than previously reported. Variation of the pH and ligand concentrations allowd the determination of rates of reaction by three pathways with different pH dependencies. The magnitude of rate constants of these pathways for Cr(II1) with inorganic (Cl-, SCN-) and carboxylate ligands gives insight into the reaction pathways for the environmentally important ligand humic acid. Introduction Knowledge of both the rate of conversion of aquated Cr(II1) to bound forms and the ultimate equilibrium speciation of Cr(III) are important in predicting its biogeochemical behavior in natural waters. In general, the reaction kinetics of Cr(II1) are dominated by the slow exchange of water molecules from the inner coordination sphere. The rates of reaction of Cr(II1) with inorganic ligands such as C1-and SCN-have been extensively studied either directly or indirectly by combination of aquation rate and equilibrium measurements and the results have been systematically compared (1). In contrast, the rates of reaction of Cr(III) with carboxylate ligands and humic materials have been little studied. The few studies available for carboxylate ligands have been conducted under acid conditions and at high ligand concentrations (2).The rates of reaction of Cr(II1) with carboxylate ligands at the low concentrations typical of dissolved organic matter in natural waters (about lop5 M) have not been reported. At such low concentrations, the rate of reaction should become dependent upon the ligand concentration. We have used chemiluminescence analysis to monitor rates of reaction of Cr(II1) with the carboxylate ligands oxalate, salicylate, and humic acid over a wide range of ligand concentrations ( l o p 2 to lop5 M). The technique involves the oxidation of luminol by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of unbound Cr(II1) to yield a product which luminesces (3). The intensity of luminescence is proportional to the u~e a c t e d Cr(II1) concentration. Because of its high sensitivity, chemiluminescence analysis is well suited to kinetic studies of Cr(II1) reacting with carboxylate and humic ligands at low concentrations.