Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 2003, 68, 23-34
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc20030023

The Autocatalytic Reduction of Ferriin by Malonic Acid with Regard to the Ferroin-Catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinsky Reaction

Marta Mrákavová, Milan Melicherčík, Anna Olexová and Ľudovít Treindl*

Department of Physical Chemistry, Comenius University, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Abstract

The reduction of ferriin ([Fe(phen)3]3+, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) by malonic acid (MA) differs from the reduction of Ce(IV) or Mn(III) ions by MA in its autocatalytic character and in a pregnant influence of oxygen, which behaves obviously as a catalyst. The time dependence of the ferroin-ferriin redox potential at the last stage of this reaction has a sigmoidal shape, which indicates autocatalysis. Under anaerobic conditions, the inflection time is of the order of several tens of minutes, since autocatalysis cannot proceed unless a sufficient amount of oxygen is produced via oxidation of water (OH- ions) with Fe(IV) formed by the ferriin dismutation. Under aerobic conditions, the inflection time decreases to a value of a few seconds. The probable reaction mechanism is discussed in detail.

Keywords: Ferriin reduction; Malonic acid; Ferroin redox catalyst; Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction; Autocatalytic reaction; Oxygen influence; Oscillatory reactions; Iron.

References: 21 live references.