Pattern formation in the methylene-blue-glucose system

Abstract

We report a systematic study of pattern formation in a thin fluid layer driven by a simple chemical reaction. The hydrodynamic instability arises due to the increase of fluid density in the subsurface layer caused by the O₂ oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid with the methylene blue as a catalyst. We also report independent measurements of the kinetics of the reaction and of the increase in density which gives rise to the instability.