Travelling reaction fronts in the nitric acid oxidation of thiocyanate

Abstract

The autocatalytic reactions involving nitric acid as an oxidant are a potential family of systems in which travelling reaction fronts can be generated, although observation of the front may be difficult. The oxidation of thiocyanate yields a well defined red coloured reaction front whose properties have been investigated. A computer model gives a good description of the travelling waves, and the results are consistent with a simple analytical treatment.