Belousov-Zhabotinskii Reaction (classic)
Materials
1 liter Erlenmeyer Flask
Magnetic Stir Plate
Magnetic Stir Bar
Gloves and Goggles
Premeaured Solutions (300 mL of A, B & C, 4.6 mL of D)
Solutions
Solution A: 0.23M Potassium Bromate (KBrO3)
Solution B: 0.31M malonic acid
0.059M Potassium Bromide (KBr)
Solution C: 0.019M Cerium Ammonium nitrate (Ce(NH4)2 (NO3)6)
2.7M Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4)
Solution D: 0.025M Ferroin Sulfate
Procedure
- In a 1 liter flask, add 300ml solution A to 300ml solution B. Solution becomes amber.
- Wait until the solution clears, add 300ml solution C, mixture turns orange with the smell of bromine.
- Wait until the orange color fades to the yellow cerium solution color and add 3.6ml solution D.
- Color changes from gorgeous green to pompous purple to rusty red to blink of blue (if you blink you miss the blue) and finally back to gorgeous green. Cycle takes ~1 min, with the cycle lengthening with time.
Waste Management
To dispose, neutralize the solution with sodium bicarbonate and pour it down the drain.