Oscillating Reactions: Exploring Chemical Magic

In summary, oscillating reactions involve coupled rate equations that can produce sinusoidal solutions. They do not break the laws of thermodynamics and are not considered to be 'chemical magic'.
  • #1
Turkish
34
0
What are the basic principles behind oscillating reactions, I mean, if its known as 'chemical magic' what must it undergo to be such a thing?

I've been looking all over the web and havn't been able to find enough information, for example, how the laws of thermodynamics are broken or how it contradicts common sense.

Any help will be appreciated, thanks!:)
 
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  • #2
http://www.sci.wsu.edu/idea/OscilChem/

You've had diffEq? It's the same sort of thing you run into if you start doing real population dynamics studies rather than playing with the simple exponential kinetic models. Tie enough coupled systems together, and you get oscillations.
 
  • #3
Laws of the thermodynamics are not broken in oscillating reactions. In fact they are never broken. Once one of them get broken, it will be no longer law :wink:
 
  • #4
Turkish said:
What are the basic principles behind oscillating reactions, I mean, if its known as 'chemical magic' what must it undergo to be such a thing?
Consider the simplest case of a pair of coupled rate equations:
[tex]dx/dt=k_1y~,~~dy/dt=k_2x[/tex]
The solutions are sinusoidal.

No magic...no broken laws.
 

What is an oscillating reaction?

An oscillating reaction is a chemical reaction in which the concentrations of the reactants and products periodically change over time, creating a repeated pattern of color changes, temperature changes, or other observable properties.

What causes the oscillations in these reactions?

The oscillations in these reactions are caused by complex interactions between the reactants, which result in the formation and depletion of intermediate compounds. These intermediate compounds can then react with other reactants, leading to changes in concentration and observable properties.

How are oscillating reactions useful in science?

Oscillating reactions provide a unique opportunity to study the dynamics of chemical reactions and investigate how different factors, such as temperature, concentration, and catalysts, affect their behavior. They also have practical applications in fields like materials science and biochemistry.

What are some examples of oscillating reactions?

The Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction, the Briggs-Rauscher reaction, and the Bray-Liebhafsky reaction are all well-known examples of oscillating reactions. These reactions involve a variety of different chemical species and exhibit different types of oscillations.

Can oscillating reactions be used for educational purposes?

Yes, oscillating reactions are often used in educational settings to demonstrate the principles of chemical kinetics and thermodynamics. They can also be incorporated into science demonstrations or experiments to engage students and spark their interest in chemistry.

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