eli5: what is the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction?

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eli5: what is the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction?

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The Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction is a chemical reaction that can create a colorful pattern in a Petri dish. The reaction is named after the two scientists who discovered it, Belousov and Zhabotinsky. The reaction is caused by a chemical called bromine. When the bromine is added to a solution of acid and water, it causes the solution to turn a yellow color. As the bromine reacts with the acid, it produces a gas called oxygen. The oxygen bubbles up and out of the solution, and as it does, it turns the solution a red color. The oxygen then reacts with the bromine, turning it back into a yellow color. This cycle of the bromine turning yellow, then red, then yellow again, creates a beautiful pattern in the Petri dish.