Abstract
A mechanism is proposed for the reaction of chlorite and iodide ions. This scheme, which involves eight elementary steps
and six principal species, is considerably simpler and yields better agreement with experiment than the mechanism proposed earlier by Epstein and Kustin. Our new mechanism successfully simulates the observed clock reaction behavior and recovery of [I2] under batch conditions and the bistability and oscillation found in a CSTR. It also sheds light on some of the effects observed in this reaction on varying the extent of mixing. Because of the relative simplicity of the mechanism, it should be possible to combine it with models of other reactions such as bromate-iodide, or of other processes such as stirring, to yield insights into more complex dynamical phenomena.