Pattern formation driven by an acid-base neutralization reaction in aqueous media in a gravitational field.

We report the hydrodynamic instabilities found in a simple exothermic neutralization reaction. Although the heavier aqueous NaOH solution was put below the lighter layer of aqueous HCl solution, fingering at the interface in a Hele-Shaw cell was observed. The reaction front, which propagates downward, becomes buoyantly unstable in the gravity field. The mixing zone length and wave number depend on the reactant concentrations. The mixing zone length increases and the wave number decreases when the reactant concentrations decrease.