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A new chemical oscillator containing neither metal nor oxyhalogen ions

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Abstract

Essentially all known inorganic chemical oscillators1 contain a metal ion2–4 and/or an oxyhalogen ion, in particular, iodate ion3, bromate ion2,5 or chlorite ion6. We report here a new chemical oscillator that is based on sulphur chemistry and contains neither a metal ion nor an oxyhalogen ion. The oscillator does involve elemental oxygen, and in this way it may be related to an oscillating reaction recently discovered by Jensen7. The discovery of new chemical oscillators which are fundamentally different from those previously known is of great importance as it supplies new testing grounds for general theories of dynamic behaviour8 as well as further information concerning the exact mechanistic requirements for chemical oscillators to occur.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812, USA

    Maria Burger & Richard J. Field

  2. Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, L. Eötvös University, Muzeum KRT 4/B, Budapest, Hungary

    Maria Burger

Authors
  1. Maria Burger
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  2. Richard J. Field
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Burger, M., Field, R. A new chemical oscillator containing neither metal nor oxyhalogen ions. Nature 307, 720–721 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/307720a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/307720a0

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