The rates of anodic chlorate formation were measured under a variety of well‐defined hydrodynamic conditions. In dilute
normalNaCl solutions false(<0.1Mfalse)
these rates are up to 60 times larger than those calculated for mass transport control as hitherto postulated. The rates of chlorate formation were calculated using a model which involves the coupling of mass transfer with a chemical reaction (chlorine hydrolysis) proceeding in the diffusion layer. The agreement between the calculated and the experimental values is satisfactory. The model used describes adequately the mechanism of anodic chlorate formation in the range of conditions investigated. In dilute
normalNaCl
solutions the rate of chlorate formation is governed by the kinetics of the chlorine hydrolysis. At higher chloride concentrations equilibrium may limit the hydrolysis and the mechanism of the process then changes accordingly.