The oxidation of [Cr III (HNTA)(Hist)(H 2 O)] -and [Cr III (HNTA)(Asp)(H 2 O)] -(NTA = nitrilotriacetate, Hist = L-histidinate and Asp = DL-aspartate) by periodate in aqueous medium has been studied spectrophotometrically between 15.0 and 35.0°C under pseudo-first-order conditions, [IO 4 -] ) [complex]. The rate increases over the pH range 3.40-4.45 in both cases, but the two complexes give different rate laws. It is proposed that electron transfer proceeds through an inner-sphere mechanism via coordination of IO 4 -to chromium(III). A common mechanism for the oxidation of some chromium(III) complexes by periodate is proposed, and this is supported by an excellent isokinetic relationship between DH* and DS* values for these reactions.