The effect of acetone on the dynamics of temporal oscillations and waves in the ruthenium-catalyzed Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction

Abstract

The effect of acetone on temporal oscillations and spatio-temporal patterns occurring in the ruthenium-catalyzed Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction was investigated in a closed batch system. The periods of temporal oscillations and waves significantly decrease with increasing acetone concentration. At low concentrations of acetone (0.01–0.05 M), regular wave patterns are observed with prolonged lifetimes of both temporal oscillations and waves. However, for higher concentrations (0.10–1.00 M acetone), the lifetime is shortened and irregular patterns are formed. The photosensitivity of waves of the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-catalyzed BZ reaction remains the same for all acetone concentrations. The results are discussed in terms of the proposed reaction mechanism.