Abstract
The relaxation times characterizing the growth or decay of small perturbations from a stationary‐state established under continuous‐flow, well‐stirred conditions are derived for the autocatalytic sequences A + n B → (n + 1) B, with n = 1 or 2. The results show how as the flow‐rate is varied, relaxation times may gradually become very long compared with the mean residence‐time of the system. This lengthening is accompanied by a change in the mathematical form, from an exponential to an inverse dependence on time. This is not, however, a critical phenomenon, nor are infinite values possible.

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