Energy dynamics in the Bray-Liebhafsky oscillatory reaction

Abstract

Energy dynamics of the well-stirred, isothermally conducted Bray-Liebhafsky reaction is followed by monitoring the population of the first two vibration states of hydrogen peroxide. Excitations are detected by Raman spectroscopy showing periodical changes of the energy flow through the system, matching the periodicity of chemical oscillations. Well before chemical oscillation, rearrangement of energy provokes excessive excitation of the first vibration state of hydrogen peroxide followed by the phase-shifted excitation of the second state. The observed populations of excited states highly exceed equilibrium values, suggesting that the nonequilibrium distribution of energy related to the peculiar hydrogen bond network dynamics may be an important part of the reaction mechanism.