Last time I write about trying to find phenomena where the physics might stay the same as you shrink down the dimensions. Another one of the themes of the independent science society is to figure out how to create complex phenomena worth experimenting with on tabletop. Previously I demonstrated Rayleigh Bernard convection cells with Mica powder and oil, where I saw cell-like devisions in liquid when I applied a temperature gradient.

This was an example of non-equilibrium, self-organising phenomena due to the application of a temperature gradient. I've preciously tried and failed to do other things like the Briggs Rauscher reaction, a safer oscillating chemical reaction. Regarding complex phenomena, I aim to identify key variables through math and physical experiments.

Convection cells depend on liquid layer thickness, temperature gradient, and container size. Another complex phenomenon that caught my eye is Liesegang rings—rings forming in a gel with spacing following (1 + p)^n, a geometric series. I find this interesting because chemical reaction patterning relates to embryology, as seen in books like *The Triumph of The Embryo*, and the theory is mathematically rich within non-equilibrium statistical mechanics.

Though Liesegang rings aren't the mechanism behind animal patterning, their aesthetics are mesmerising. The mechanisms behind Liesegang rings remain unresolved, making them ideal for home replication. I considered potassium dichromate and silver nitrate for bright rings but rejected it due to carcinogenicity and inhalation risk.

Magnesium hydrochloride with ammonia also seemed unsafe due to high concentrations. Using Gpt Sol, I found a safer alternative: a 1999 paper by Chopard using agar jelly (safe), magnesium chloride (bath salts), and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda, corrosive but fume-free, previously used for quantum dots). I replicated the recipe with NaOH, noting low cost and ready availability.

I aim to make chemical network research accessible for home experimentation, using Sol to determine concentrations and procedures from the Chopard 1999 paper. Here is my first attempt.