Kinetics studies has been carried out on the oxidation of L-cysteicacid (HR'H) by permanganate ion in aqueous acidic medium at 27.0±1.00C, I= 0.5mol dm-3(Na2SO4), [H+] = 1.0´10-1mol dm-3.The stoichiometry of reaction was 2:5 (MnO4 - :HR'H). The reaction was also found to be first order in [MnO4 -] and [HR'H] respectively and the reactions conformed to the following rate law. The rate of reaction displayed negative salt effects. Added anions and cations catalysed the reaction and changes in dielectric constant of the medium had no effect on the rate of the reaction. The results of spectroscopic and kinetic investigation did not indicate intermediate complex formation during the course of the reaction, since there was no change in λmax at 525nm. The outer- sphere mechanism is proposed for these reactions.
