How To Make Glow in the Dark Powder

How to make phosphorescent glow in the dark powder. Also known as luminescent, photoluminescent or simply glow powder.

Warning: This experiment uses mildly toxic chemicals, wear gloves when handling them. In addition, the combustion reaction must be performed outside or in a fume-hood due to the resulting smoke and gasses.

For this experiment you'll need:
Strontium Nitrate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rd8b6wNnKA
Aluminum Nitrate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4Ha1SJrazY
Purification by recrystalization: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVA0rK_VITY
Europium and dysprosium nitrates: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IFsOmriS8I
And you'll need nitric acid to make the above nitrates: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yE7v4wkuZU

The procedure is relatively straightforward: 1.875g of aluminum nitrate nonahydrate with 530mg of strontium nitrate, 10.7mg of europium nitrate pentahydrate, 21.9mg of dysprosium nitrate pentahydrate and 30.9mg of boric acid are dissolved in 3mL of distilled water. 3.9g of pure urea is added and shaken until dissolved. The mixture is heated in a 1000watt microwave for 4 minutes. Eventually it'll ignite and combust. The white "ash" is the glow powder.

Can be used in Glow in the Dark Paint if crushed into a powder and mixed with an appropriate clear paint/resin/lacquer/glue.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• strontium
• aluminate
• europium
• dysprosium
• glow
• in
• the
• dark
• phosphorescence
• luminescence
• microwave
• combustion
• synthesis
• science
• chemistry
• experiment
• nerd
• rage
• nurd
• paint

[LolzICanFly]

"Entirely from chemicals we could easily buy or make ourselves"?

-Ultra-pure aluminum nitrate nonahydrate

-Ultra-pure strontium nitrate

-Europium nitrate pentahydrate

-Dysprosium nitrate pentahydrate

Those don't seem like things easily obtained, much less synthesizable at home O_o

[NurdRage]

@LolzICanFly If you check the video description you'll find all the chemicals linked in previous videos where they are all made.

[TheBrainParalysis]

I like how you got really far away because the microwave could have caught fire; but yet you put the microwave under a wooden gazebo.

[NurdRage]

@TheBrainParalysis Don't make assumptions. I said you had to do the reaction outside because of the smoke. Thus why i walked away. I also said the door could be blown off. But i never said the microwave could catch fire.

Don't complain about facts that were never actually stated.

[snower5554]

Your neighbors never call the police for microwaving all this stuff in your back yard?

[NurdRage]

@snower5554 interestingly enough. no. :)

[122later122]

I like how he says "PISSING" xD

[BruceNJeffAreMyFlies]

@bunnehsrus make them.

[acx7893]

hmm, I don't think I will be making this

[dontbugit]

"this impure stuff is terrible" that's what i say about my drugs. ;-d

[pyrotechnics100]

@LolzICanFly i have strontium nitrate standing in front of me right know

[kiddolols]

where did u buy the commercial one?

[MMJMlh]

We do glassblowing, how would I figure out glass compatibilities? Cool idea! You also mention a hydrogen environment for commercial powder. There are videos on an HHO generator that may spark some ideas for you. Just make sure that is all it sparks!

[bunnehsrus]

hold on, let me go pick up the ingredients from my local wal-mart.

[seocom]

Fun stuff thx

[TheAntiAss]

@dj8083 One of the ingredients is mineral sprites... Go ahead "experiment". Thus I do not take any responsibly for anything stupid you do based off this Info I have given you.