How Do Glow Sticks Work?

Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski demonstrates how glow sticks work by dissecting a glow stick to obtain the liquid materials inside the plastic tube and glass vial. Materials are mixed resulting a chemical reaction called chemiluminescence. Chemiluminescence is a chemical reaction resulting in the emission of light but not heat. Dr. Diana also demonstrates how temperature affects the rate of reactions by placing glow sticks in hot and cold water. She then compares the brightness and duration of light. Wear safety goggles and rubber gloves while conducting this experiment. Dr. Diana warns minors not to conduct this experiment.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• teacher training video
• science experiments
• chemistryexperiments
• glowsticks
• handsonscience
• science classroom
• teachertraining
• drdianateachertraining.com

[dfarmbrough]

Very good. My son asks "Are you a real scientist?"

[drdianascience]

Yes, Ph.D. Science Education Consultant. All degrees in Science. Thanks for watching.

[dfarmbrough]

Thanks - my son is seven, I think he just wondered because of the fun presentation, with the Hallowe'en stuff all about :-)

Tomorrow I am having a science day with him so I suspect we shall be back to watch some more.

[drdianascience]

Good for you, exploring science with your child "Family Science".

[IZOOMHUNGARY]

Cool Video! I have a quastion. If i take the liquid out and mix it to glow. Can i combine it with water. I would like to paint the road with water that is going to freeze on the road.

[drdianascience]

I would just pour the material on the road. Keep in mind the material can burn the skin, you are also adding chemicals to the environment.

[Neoxym]

A bit repetitive, but very informative. Also gave me an idea of what to do when there's a power outage. Just put a glowstick in some cold water and read a book. :>

[wejamon84]

@pittkid42  neon food coloring.

[Ts6451]

@ahsirhc : The color depends on what fluorecent dye is used, this dye is contained in the liquid with the phenyl oxalate. I think blue sticks use 9,10-diphenylanthracene as the dye. If the doctor is correct, the dye would be outside the vial in the brand she is dissecting, but this may depend on the manufacturer, Cyalume has the dye/oxalate inside the vial and peroxide outside. It may have been better for a demo to open a stick with a dye more visible in daylight like green or orange.

[pittkid42]

how do they make colours??

[devon00789]

Lawl, the next video is "Is it a Good Idea to Microwave This? #32 Glow Sticks" XD

Anyway, thanks, and just out of curiosity, what happens if you put the two chemicals into water without the plastic cover?

[TheBmxtricker]

wew. thanks

[MrTsquared88]

@boulehead RAVING SEASON!!!!!!

it only comes once a year ya know!

[jawajow]

there is a band called evanescence !

[ahsirhc]

Hey i have a question...

If glow sticks have different colour. does the vial carry it or the other stuff?

[ZOMBIE88081]

@boulehead hell yea

[ZOMBIE88081]

@CookieOnMyShoulder sometimes people have delicate skin so u can get skin cancer if u put it on ur ski so that is y