The reaction of chlorine dioxide with hydrogen peroxide was studied in a well stirred batch reactor in a pH range of 3.60 to 5.07, which is of interest for commercial chlorine dioxide bleaching of chemical pulp. The reaction rate was determined by following the consumption of chlorine dioxide and hydrogen peroxide and the formation of chlorite. The rate equation was established. It was found that the concentration dependencies of chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxide ion were all first-order. A reaction mechanism compatible with the rate equation was proposed. Since it was found in previous work that chlorite in chlorine dioxide solution by the addition of small amount of hydrogen peroxide potentially led to a decrease in the formation of organically bound chlorine during chlorine dioxide bleaching, two methods were suggested to implement this technique in a bleach plant.