Exploring the BZ reaction

CHED 310

Nathaniel Coleman Jr., ncoleman@monm.edu1, Charles W Blackledge, cblackledge@monm.edu1, and Michael C Sostarecz, msostarecz@monm.edu2. (1) Chemistry Department, Monmouth College, 700 East Broadway, Monmouth, IL 61462, (2) Physics Department, Monmouth College, 700 East Broadway, Monmouth, IL 61462
The Belosuov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) experiment is an oxidation-reduction reaction that oscillates in energy state as it moves towards equilibrium. Using the indicator 1,10-phenanthroline, this oscillation is able to be visually seen as the color of the experiment shifts from red to blue, and then back to red. We are using UV/Vis Spectroscopy to measure the oscillation periods and record the length of the total reaction. Comparing the spectroscopy data to a competing species model, we are able to obtain individual reaction rates.