Skeleton schemes model representation of isothermal autocatalysis

Skeleton schemes model representation of isothermal autocatalysis 

In this book we do not wish to limit ourselves to any specific reaction, so we will use a more general representation of a prototype autocatalytic sequence. If we have a reaction, or a sequence of elementary steps which provides a net conversion of a species A to B, we can use the representation 

In the hydrogen-oxygen and B-Z reactions considered above, the autocatalytic cycles correspond to a value for n of unity. The resulting rate law, rate = klab, involves the product of two concentrations and is known as quadratic autocatalysis . In the reaction between iodate and iodide ions, I is produced through an autocatalytic cycle which, at its simplest, corresponds 

We also should emphasize here that the idea of these prototype representations is not of autocatalysis occurring through a single elementary reaction step, but as the consequence of a series of such steps which may or may not have a single rate-determining reaction. 

Autocatalysis will play a central role in driving the oscillations and other non-linear phenomena of interest in this book. Usually, an autocatalytic process will be combined in a larger mechanism with other steps. Before considering such systems, however, we investigate the properties and behaviour of autocatalysis on its own—in particular how the concentrations and rate vary with time and with respect to each other. We start with quadratic autocatalysis, and then look at the cubic form. 

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