Multiplicities and instabilities in chemically reacting systems — a review

Abstract

Regarded less than two decades ago as the province of theoreticians and understood mainly in terms of a single-step, exothermic, homogeneous reaction in a well-stirred vessel, the description of steady-state multiplicities and intrinsic dynamics of chemically reacting systems has become increasingly experimental, broad, rich and complex. Through the past decade or so researchers, investigating systems which involve varying degrees of physical and chemical complexity, have (1) made use of catastrophe and singularity theories to produce a systematic representation and new understanding of the steady state and of instabilities and self-sustained oscillations in certain instances, and (2) reported experimental observations which, in many cases, have provided support for prior theory and, in many others, have led to new theoretical developments, particularly regarding complex and chaotic oscillations. This review brings attention to much of the recent literature describing these developments and their applications.