The mechanism of oxidation of ternary complexes, [Co II (nta)(S)(H 2 O) 2 ] 3− and [Co II (nta)(M)(H 2 O)] 3− (nta = nitrilotriacetate acid, S = succinate dianion, and M = malonate dianion), by periodate in aqueous medium has been studied spectrophotometrically over the (20.0-40.0