A polarographic study of the oxidation of some polyhydroxybenzenes with atmospheric oxygen: (Preliminary communication)

As a contribution to the study of the formation of humic acids in soil, a polarographic investigation has been made of the oxidation of some poly-hydroxybenzenes in aqueous solution under different conditions. The formation of hydroxyquinone as an intermediate in the oxidation of hydroquinone was confirmed. Indications were obtained for the identity of some other intermediate reaction products. The important conclusion is drawn that the presence of tyrosinase or certain clay-minerals frequently not only influences the reaction velocity, as is sometimes supposed, but also may alter the course of the oxidation reaction.