The equilibria and kinetics of the reaction of iron(III) with 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) and 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid under the condition of 1 : 1 chelate formation at different temperatures (35–45 °C) and ionic strength I = 1.0 mol dm−3 (NaClO4 + HClO4) have been studied. A dual path mechanism involving both Feaq3+ and Fe(OH)aq2+ species and the undissociated ligand (LH2+, LH2±) is consistent with the experimental observations under the experimental condition. The different rate constants have been deternined from the attainment of the equilibrium from both directions i.e., from the study of complex formation at low acid concentration and from the study of decomposition of the complex in presence of higher acid concentration. The results obtained from the both studies are found comparable within the experimental error limit. The results conform to kobsd/B = k1[H+] + k2Kh where, ; Kh = hydrolysis constant of Feaq3+, k1 and k2 are the forward second order rate constants of Feaq3+ and Fe(OH)aq2+ r...