The ferroin catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction is a prototypical oscillating chemical reaction with a visible cue of oxidation state given by the complex auto-catalytic reaction of bromide, malonic acid, bromate, and ferroin. As discovered by Showalter <i>et al.</i>, initial conditions determine whether the system will be in an auto-oscillatory state ([H+][BrO3-] &gt;0.045 M2) or an excitable state ([H+][BrO3-] &lt;0.045 M2) where oscillations may be induced. Therefore, the BZ reaction exhibits an auto-oscillatory/excitable boundary. The focus of this research is to demonstrate that through manipulation of reagent concentrations, the BZ reaction can be used as a qualitative model for other natural systems that exhibit this behavior, such as the electro-mechanical heartbeat or nerve impulses. Theoretical models were created to approach the system’s behavior with changing initial conditions and introducing perturbations to it in the form of pH changes in a sinusoidal pattern (heterodyne model). The model showed very little change in period. Experimental work used base pulses as its perturbations in a ‘square wave’ pattern in an attempt to mimic the sinusoidal behavior of the theoretical model. Introducing pulses 15s after each oscillation had no effect on period, whereas the introduction of a base pulse every 60s after the first oscillation increased period time.

Auto-oscillatory/excitable boundary and complex dynamics in the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction

249th National Meeting (2015)

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