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Chemiluminescent Oscillating Demonstrations: The Chemical Buoy, the Lighting Wave, and the Ghostly Cylinder

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Hernán E. Prypsztejn

Laborotorio de Química, Escuela Técnica N° 1 "Otto Krause", Buenos Aires, Argentina

Doug Stratton

Department of Chemistry, Onalaska High School, Onalaska, WI 54650

J. Chem. Educ., 2005, 82 (1), p 53

DOI: 10.1021/ed082p53

Publication Date (Web): January 1, 2005

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

Oscillating reactions have been extensively used in chemical demonstrations. They involve several chemical concepts about kinetics, catalysts, and thermodynamics. The spontaneous cyclic color change of a solution is an attraction in any educational-level course. Chemiluminescent reactions are also among the most fascinating demonstrations and have been successfully used as a pedagogical tool. In this article, a chemiluminescent oscillating reaction is presented in which a chemiluminescent substance (luminol) interacts with a chemical oscillator producing an oscillating chemiluminescence. This demonstration has been successfully performed in basic chemistry courses to arouse interest and curiosity in students. This demonstration fascinates audiences and in courses for science majors it is an excellent way to introduce complex concepts such as far-from-equilibrium conditions, nonlinear dynamics and bifurcation, and chaos theories.

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