Anomalous behaviour of Belousov-Zhabotinskii oscillators in the presence of Ag+

Abstract

Non-Br--controlled Belousov-Zhabotinskii oscillators have been studied. Not only are Br- oscillations suppressed but redox potential oscillations are also subsequently suppressed on addition of sufficient Ag+. Analytical studies show that there is still sufficient BrO3- in the systems at this instant. The redox potential oscillations are revived on addition of BrO3- but not on addition of organic substrate. The phenomenon is general and has been observed in systems having (a) malonic acid+Ce4+, (b) phenol and (c) oxalic acid+acetone/cyclohexone+Ce4+. © 1989.