The Briggs–Rauscher Reaction: A Demonstration of Sequential Spatiotemporal Patterns

Abstract

The Briggs–Rauscher reaction is a popular demonstration to illustrate chemical oscillations in laboratories, classrooms, and public seminars because of its simplicity and visual appeal. Here, we adapt the Briggs–Rauscher reaction to present reaction–diffusion–convection patterns in the undergraduate general or physical chemistry laboratory. By maintaining the ratio between malonic acid and potassium iodate concentrations as 0.2 in an uncovered Petri dish, sequential patterns (transient dendritic patterns and rotating dendritic patterns) can be observed, which are induced by the interaction of reaction, diffusion, and convection. This beautiful demonstration captures students’ attention and inspires reflection and discussion about similar phenomena in nature as well as the wealth of behaviors in systems far from equilibrium.