A STUDY OF BELOUSOV-ZHABOTINSKII REACTION WITH MIXED ORGANIC SUBSTRATE IN VARIOUS ACID-MEDIA

Abstract

The behaviour of Mn(II) catalysed Belousov-Zhabotinskii reaction with mixed organic substrate involving tartaric acid and acetone has been studied in four different acid media, namely, H2SO4. HNO3- HClO4 and H3PO4. The dependence of t(in) (time of initiation), t(p) (time period) and t(l) (life time) on the concentrations of the above acids has been investigated. The dependence of life time (t(l)) on concentration of acids is given by an empirical equation, t(l) = a exp (-bC). The dependence of time period (t(p)) on the concentration of acids is given by the empirical equation, t(p) = k (acid)n. Of the four acids, the behaviour in H3PO4, in which violet coloured manganiphoshate ion [Mn(PO4)2]3- is formed, is extreme in respect of the t(p) and t(l) of oscillations.