Bray–Liebhafsky reaction

The Bray–Liebhafsky reaction is a chemical clock first described by William C. Bray in 1921 and the first oscillating reaction in a stirred homogeneous solution. He investigated the role of the iodate (IO₃⁻), the anion of iodic acid in the catalytic conversion of hydrogen peroxide to oxygen and water by the iodate. He noticed that the concentration of iodine molecules oscillated and that oxygen did build up pulsating.

An increase in temperature reduces the cycle in the range of hours. This oscillating reaction consisting of free radical on non-radical steps was investigated further by his student Herman A. Liebhafsky, hence the name Bray–Liebhafsky reaction. During this period, most chemists rejected the phenomenon and tried to explain the oscillation by invoking heterogeneous impurities.

A fundamental property of this system is that hydrogen peroxide has a redox potential which enables the simultaneous oxidation of iodine to iodate:

5 H₂O₂ + I₂ → 2 IO₃⁻ + 2 H⁺ + 4 H₂O

and the reduction of iodate back to iodine:

5 H₂O₂ + 2 IO₃⁻ + 2 H⁺ → I₂ + 5 O₂ + 6 H₂O

Between these two reactions the system oscillates causing a concentration jump of the iodide and the oxygen production. The net reaction is:

2 H₂O₂ → 2 H₂O + O₂

necessitating a catalyst and IO₃⁻.