2018/08/17 by Ryan Kerr, R. Kerr, W. M. Thomson +6
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Chemistry · Computer Science · Engineering · Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #34E10 #80A30 #92E99 #Biological Physics (physics.bio-ph) #Dynamical Systems (math.DS) #FOS: Biological sciences #FOS: Mathematics #FOS: Physical sciences #Molecular Junctions and Nanostructures #Molecular Networks (q-bio.MN) #Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation #math.DS #msc:34E10 #msc:80A30 #msc:92E99 #physics.bio-ph #q-bio.MN #thermodynamics and calorimetric analyses
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1808.06010
17 pages, 5 figures
openalex publication_date 2018/08/17 · arxiv created 2019/03/24 · arxiv updated 2019/03/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Chemical clock reactions are characterised by a relatively long induction period followed by a rapid `switchover' during which the concentration of a clock chemical rises rapidly. In addition to their interest in chemistry education, these reactions are relevant to industrial and biochemical applications. A substrate-depletive, non-autocatalytic clock reaction involving household chemicals (vitamin C, iodine, hydrogen peroxide and starch) is modelled mathematically via a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Following dimensional analysis the model is analysed in the phase plane and via matched asymptotic expansions. Asymptotic approximations are found to agree closely with numerical solutions in the appropriate time regions. Asymptotic analysis also yields an approximate formula for the dependence of switchover time on initial concentrations and the rate of the slow reaction. This formula is tested via `kitchen sink chemistry' experiments, and is found to enable a good fit to experimental series varying in initial concentrations of both iodine and vitamin C. The vitamin C clock reaction provides an accessible model system for mathematical chemistry.