Animated video: 37 principles of chemical reactions and their dangers – The Enchanting Cycle

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Principle: This is an example of a B-Z reaction (Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction) that occurs on a thin layer in a petri dish. The B-Z reaction is a chemical oscillatory reaction that was first discovered in the 1950s. The reaction system undergoes periodic changes between two states, and the “ripples” on the petri dish also keep changing. There are various versions of the B-Z reaction; the one shown in the image is a common version. In this reaction, bromates undergo redox reactions with malonic acid, using cerium salts and ferroin (which is red in its reduced state and blue in its oxidized state) as catalysts and reaction indicators. Trivia: Currently, research on the kinetics of the B-Z reaction is still in progress, and researchers have conducted numerous mathematical calculations regarding the reaction process. Below is an image of the Petri dish B-Z reaction simulated by a computer; doesn’t it seem even more fascinating now? (Image source: Wikipedia) Hazard: Medium to low. The reaction itself is not violent, but bromates are irritating to humans; therefore, proper protection is still necessary when preparing the reaction solution. Recorder: Tim Kench