Front Cover: Acid Autocatalysis Best Served Hot: The Chlorate–Sulfite–Gluconolactone System as a Thermochemical Clock (ChemSystemsChem 3/2023)

Abstract

The Front Cover represents an artist impression of the autonomous, time-programmable temperature increase alongside acid generation in the chlorate-sulfite-gluconolactone reaction network. The reaction mixture, an aqueous solution of chlorate, sulfite and δ-gluconolactone, is contained in a beaker. The blue color suggests that the pH is basic, and the thermometer indicates that the mixture is at room temperature. The clock shows the time at which the reactants have been mixed. The hydrolysis of δ-gluconolactone triggers the acid-autocatalyzed exothermic chlorate-sulfite reaction. As a result, after some time the content of the beaker has become highly acidic (red color) and hot (vapors, and thermometer indicating a higher temperature). More information can be found in the Research Article by Ronny Kürsteiner and Guido Panzarasa .