| A glow stick is a sheer plastic tube that | | | | |
| produces a brilliant light. A glowstick is | | | | The outer compartment of the tube contains a |
| also known as glow tube or light stick or | | | | mixture of the dye and a derivate of phenyl |
| glow light stick. | | | | oxalate ester (cyalume) and the inner brittle |
| | | | part contains concentrated hydrogen peroxide. |
| A glow stick is typically a plastic | | | | |
| cylindrical rod about four or five inches (10 | | | | A ferocious reaction takes place on mixing |
| to 13 cm) long and less than an inch (2.5 cm) | | | | the peroxide with the phenyl oxalate ester. |
| in diameter. The transparent stick contains | | | | The ester is oxidized, giving out 2 molecules |
| two chemical fluids in two different | | | | of phenol and 1 molecule of peroxyacid ester. |
| compartments. The outer compartment of the | | | | The peroxyacid decomposes spontaneously to |
| tube carries one chemical fluid and the inner | | | | carbon dioxide, releasing energy that excites |
| compartment carries the other. The inner | | | | the dye that then de-excites by releasing a |
| compartment is brittle either made of glass | | | | photon. The wavelength of the photon depends |
| or brittle plastic. | | | | on the structure of the dye. |
| | | | |
| The inner brittle part breaks on bending the | | | | Different dyes can be used to produce |
| glowstick and helps inter mingling the two | | | | different color lights. The 9,10-bis |
| chemical fluids. A fierce chemical reaction | | | | (phenylethynyl) anthracene gives green light, |
| takes place emitting bright light but not | | | | 9,10-diphenylanthracene emits blue light, |
| necessarily heat. | | | | 5,6,11,12-tetraphenylnaphthacene emit red |
| | | | light. The glowsticks dyes usually emit |
| The glowsticks are used in the military, | | | | fluorescent light when exposed to ultraviolet |
| recreational driving at night, marching bands | | | | radiation. Therefore even a spent glowstick |
| at night, entertainment parties, raves, | | | | shines under a black light. |
| concerts, dance clubs, Halloween eves etc. | | | | |
| The glowsticking is the use of glowsticks in | | | | The other chemicals used in glow sticks may |
| dance. | | | | include sodium salicylate as a catalyst, bis |
| | | | (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DCHP) as a solvent, |
| Chemistry: | | | | bis (phenyl) oxalate, bis |
| | | | (2,4,5-trichlorophenyl-6-carbopentoxyphenyl) |
| The phenomenon of the chemical reaction in | | | | oxalate (CPPO). |
| the glow sticks is known as | | | | |
| chemiluminescence. The chemicals used to | | | | The chemical reaction gets accelerated on |
| create the reaction in glow sticks are | | | | heating a glow stick and the glowstick glows |
| usually hydrogen peroxide and a mixture of | | | | brighter, but for a shorter span. The cooling |
| phenyl oxalate ester and the fluorescent dye. | | | | on the contrary decelerates the reaction that |
| The fluorescent dye gives the glow stick its | | | | helps a sick glow longer, but dimmer. |
| color. | | | | |