Chemical Patterns in Autoxidations Catalyzed by Redox Dyes

Abstract

We present simple and effective experiments to produce intricate chemical patterns from common chemicals in a classroom setting. Students selected an independent variable of their interest, designed their experiment, and investigated its effect on chemical patterns in a four-hour activity. Photographs and videos were taken, while the identity and the concentration of chemicals in the reaction mixture, the concentration of oxygen gas above the solution, the depth of the solution, the shape and the total area of container's cross section, and the temperature were varied. Students discussed their results and presented their investigation to the class. Our experiments enable students to conduct inquiries with open-ended discussion and also open possibilities for a chemical art competition.