The kinetics of the environmentally important oxidation of sulfur(IV) by oxygen in acetate buffered medium in the presence of Fe(III) and the pH range 5.27-5.70 has been studied. The results were in agreement with the rate law:The role of iron(III) appears to be that of production of SO 3 -radicals in Fe(III)SO 3 2-complex by an internal 1-equivalent redox reaction. Subsequently, a radical mechanism involving oxysulfur radicals, viz., SO 3 -, SO 4 -, and SO 5 -operates. Addition of ethanol leads to the introduction of an induction period and decrease in reaction rate, most likely due to scavenging of SO 4 -radicals. The value of apparent energy of activation is 45.4 kJ mol -1 .