The kinetics and activation parameters for_NO dissociation from L(H 2 O)Co(NO) 2+ 2+ , and Cr(H 2 O) 5 NO 2+ were determined in aqueous solution in the presence of IrCl 6 2À , IrBr 6 2À , or O 2 as scavengers for _NO and/or metal(II) complexes. The rate constants k -NO at 25 C are (5.7 AE 0.1) Â 10 À3 s À1 for L 2 (H 2 O)Co(NO) 2+ , (1.0 AE 0.1) Â 10 À4 for L 1 (H 2 O) Co(NO) 2+ , (5.9 AE 2.0) Â 10 À8 for Cr(H 2 O) 5 NO 2+ and (3.5 AE 1.8) Â 10 À9 s À1 for L 2 (H 2 O)Rh(NO) 2+ . The kinetics of the reverse reaction were determined by laser flash photolysis at 25 C, k NO ¼ (1.7 AE 0.2) Â 10 7 M À1 s À1 for L 2 Co(H 2 O) 2 2+ and (1.8 AE 0.1) Â 10 8 M À1 s À1 for L 2 (H 2 O)Rh 2+ . The rate constants k NO and k -NO obtained here and those available in the literature were used to calculate the equilibrium binding constants K NO for a series of nitrosyl metal complexes. A good correlation was found between log K NO and log K O 2 , the latter corresponding to O 2 binding. The correlation includes complexes of four different transition metals as well as hydrogen atom, and covers a range of about 3 V in reduction potentials. The implications of these results are discussed.