A
Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction, or
BZ reaction, is one of a class of reactions that serve as a classical example of
non-equilibrium thermodynamics, resulting in the establishment of a
nonlinear chemical oscillator. The only common element in these oscillating systems is the inclusion of bromine and an acid. The reactions are theoretically important in that they show that chemical reactions do not have to be dominated by
equilibrium thermodynamic behavior. These reactions are far from equilibrium and remain so for a significant length of time and evolve
chaotically. In this sense, they provide an interesting chemical model of nonequilibrium biological phenomena, and the mathematical models of the BZ reactions themselves are of theoretical interest and simulations.An essential aspect of the BZ reaction is its so called "excitability"; under the influence of stimuli, patterns develop in what would otherwise be a perfectly quiescent medium. Some clock reactions such as
Briggs–Rauscher and BZ using the
tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chloride as catalyst can be excited into
self-organising activity through the influence of light.