The influence of pyrocatechol added in pre-oscillatory period on the dynamics of the Bray-Liebhafsky reaction

Abstract

In the past two decades, chemical oscillators have emerged as a popular tool for the determination of “reactive” analytes due to their great sensitivity toward any kind of external perturbations. They have found application in many fields of applied science enabling relatively easy quantitative and qualitative analyses. In this study influence of pyrocatechol, an important precursor in many organic syntheses, on the pre-oscillatory period of the Bray-Liebhafsky (BL) reaction was examined. The BL reaction was followed by the potentiometric method. In a series of experiments (in a concentration range from 1.5 × 10-5 M to 3 × 10-5 M), pyrocatechol was added 45 minutes after the start of the reaction, causing an immediate appearance of oscillations. For these experimental conditions, the period between the first and second oscillation increases linearly with the added pyrocatechol concentration. The obtained results can be useful for analytical purposes and accordingly, potential determination of unknown pyrocatechol concentration.