The stoichiometry of the reaction of TIIII with ascorbic acid (H2A) in the presence and absence of chloride ion conforms to
TIIII + H2A > TII + 2H+ + A.
where A is dehydroascorbic acid. The reaction exhibits complex kinetics and the reactivity of various chlorothallium (III) species decreases in the order of [TIOH]2+ > TI3+ > [TICI]2+ > [TICI2]+ > TICI3 > [TICI4]−. The mass balance relationship was employed to calculate the equilibrium concentration of the chloride ion for evaluation of the rate constants.