The effect of acetone on the dynamics of temporal oscillations and waves in the ruthenium-catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction.

The effect of acetone on temporal oscillations and spatio-temporal patterns occurring in the ruthenium-catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction was investigated in a closed batch system. The periods of temporal oscillations and waves significantly decrease with increasing acetone concentration. At low concentrations of acetone (0.01-0.05 M), regular wave patterns are observed with prolonged lifetimes of both temporal oscillations and waves. However, for higher concentrations (0.10-1.00 M acetone), the lifetime is shortened and irregular patterns are formed. The photosensitivity of waves of the Ru(bpy)3(2+)-catalyzed BZ reaction remains the same for all acetone concentrations. The results are discussed in terms of the proposed reaction mechanism.