Mechanistic details of the Belousov–Zhabotinsky oscillations IV. Sensitivity analysis

The sensitivity of the period of the Belousov–Zhabotinsky oscillations to the rate constants and initial conditions of our previously proposed mechanism is computed by the technique recently developed for this purpose and shown to be valid in our analysis of the Oregonator. The principal rate‐controlling steps for the determination of the period are found to be the enolization and bromination of malonic acid. Dependence of the period on initial conditions qualitatively agrees with available experimental data, except for the hydrogen ion, where a large discrepancy exists. It is suggested that this may be due to deficiencies in the organic reactions in the mechanism, or to a hydrogen‐ion catalyzed bromination mechanism for malonic acid. Other components of the mechanism, which participate in characterizing the period and amplitude of the oscillations, are discussed.