Photodegradation of several thiols and thiones including 2-pyrimidinethiol, thiazolidine-2-thione, imidazolidine-2-thione, 1,2,4- triazole 3-thiol and 2,5-dimercapto- 1,3,4-thiadiazole have been studied in aerated aqueous solution using zinc oxide under irradiation with 400W high pressure mercury lamp. Rate constants span the range from 2.44 x 10(-2) min x (-1) to 1.76 x 10(-1) min x (-1). The slower degradation rate of 2-imidazoline 2-thione could be related to oxidation potential of the corresponding ring. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) rate constant k(r) and adsorption constant, (KA) for all five thiols and thiones are reported.