A mechanism involving HOCI, C1-C102, and C12 as intermediates is proposed for the disproportional tion of chlorous acid. In the absence of chloride, the reaction is controlled by two simultaneous I processes, 2HC102 + H + + HOCl + C1O3-and HCIOz + CIOz-+ HOCl + C103-. Chloride has a catalytic effect and an inhibiting effect as well on the formation of chlorine dioxide. The initial reaction I rate passes through a minimum at a certain concentration of chloride at low acidities, which can be 1 interpreted by the postulated mechanism. Under chloride catalysis, the reaction is controlled by the 1 process H + + C1-+ HClOz + 2HOC1.Canadian Journal of Chemistry, 46, 2053Chemistry, 46, (1968 The first kinetic investigation of the disproportionation of chlorous acid was carried out in 1935 by Barnett (I), who showed that the rate of formation of chlorine dioxide varied with the square of the chlorous acid concentration. The second-order rate law was also observed by Launer et a[. (2) and Nabar et a[. (3). However, in 1954, several authors (4, 5) found that the reaction forming chlorine dioxide was second order with respect to total chlorite conceiltration rather than the equilibrium concentration of chlorous acid.If the second-order dependence on the equilibrium concentration of chlorous acid is correct, it would be expected that the reaction order with respect to the equilibrium hydrogen ion concentration is 2. Nevertheless, Stitt et a[. (5) found that the order was definitely less than 2. The reaction appeared to be nearer to first order with respect to the equilibrium concentration of hydrogen ions than second order, the numerical values falling between 1.0 and 1.2. Buser and Hanisch (6) found that the rate of formation of chlorine dioxide in dilute chlorite solution is not a simple function of pH. They observed a maximum reaction rate at DH 1.70 for a solution ofA similar dependence of the reaction rate on pH was found by Hefti (7).The published literature about the effect of chloride on the rate of disproportionation of chlorous acid is meager. The catalytic effect of chloride was first observed by Barnett (l), who found that the catalyzed disproportionation reaction was first order with respect to chloride and first order with respect to chlorous acid. He also