A simple method to demonstrate the Belousov–Zhabotinskii reaction using a small volume of solution and a UV–vis spectrophotometer.

Substitution reactions, a central part of organic chemistry, provide a model system in physical chemistry to study reaction rates and mechanisms. Here, the use of inexpensive and readily available commercial conductivity probes coupled with computer data acquisition for the study of the temperature and solvent dependence of the solvolysis of 2-chloro-2-methylpropane is described. Students obtain rate constants and activation parameters for a range of solvent compositions. This experiment takes advantage of curricular reform pedagogies by utilizing modern equipment and building linkages with earlier coursework.