The kinetics of the reaction of fully reduced membrane-bound cytochrome oxidase with O2 obtained in the Soret, alpha and near-i.r. regions were analysed, and the contributions of the three intermediates of the reaction [Clore & Chance (1978) Biochem. J. 173, 799--810] to seven wavelength pairs (430--463, 444--463, 590--630, 608--630, 740--940, 790--940 and 830--940 nm) were determined. The nature of the intermediates is discussed on the basis of the data in the present paper together with data in the literature from optical wavelength scanning, e.p.r., i.r. and magnetic-susceptibility studies.