Oxidative depolymerization of chitosan induced by oxygen radical-generating systems was studied. Chitosan, but not chitin, was susceptible to oxidative depolymerization by hydroxyl radical generated through Cu(II)–ascorbate and ultraviolet–H2O2 systems in time- and concentration-dependent manners. Superoxide, H2O2, and singlet oxygen did not cause depolymerization. Metal ion chelators inhibited depolymerization by Cu(II)–ascorbate system, suggesting that the formation of chitosan–copper ion complex is important in the oxidative depolymerization. The molecular weight of the initial product during depolymerization was similar to that of glucosamine. The results suggest that copper ion could tend to coordinate to the NH2-groups at the terminal of chitosan and hydroxyl radical generated at its binding site cut off chitosan at the near position.