Prev. Article Next Article Table of Contents

Article

Lightstick Kinetics

Your current credentials do not allow retrieval of the full text.

Purchase the full-text

PDF/HTML,
figures/images,
references and tables,
(where available)

Catherine L. McCluskey

East Wake High School, 5101 Rolesville Road, Wendell, NC 27591

Charles E. Roser

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, 1219 Broad Street, Durham, NC 27715

J. Chem. Educ., 1999, 76 (11), p 1514

DOI: 10.1021/ed076p1514

Publication Date (Web): November 1, 1999

Abstract

This experiment determines the energy of activation of the luminescent reaction in a lightstick by measuring the light intensity relative to temperature using Vernier light and temperature sensors, a Texas Instruments CBL interface, and a TI-82/83 graphing calculator. The light intensity and temperature are measured simultaneously with the light sensor in direct contact with the reaction test tube and the temperature sensor inserted directly in the reaction mixture. The test tube and sensors are supported in an easily manufactured wooden block. The data are stored in the calculator and the data analysis and graphing are completed on the calculator. The data can also be transferred to a computer for analysis and printing of the graphs. This procedure generates a high level of student interest and students develop an understanding of the relationship between temperature and the rate of reaction. The 10-min data collection time allows the experiment to fit high school class periods and several trials can be performed on the same sample. The experiment incorporates the use of technology, graphing, and data analysis. The graphical presentation of the relationship between light intensity and temperature may be sufficient for an introductory laboratory, while reserving the data analysis for an intermediate or advanced course. The directions can be easily modified to use computers and other graphing calculator probe systems.

Keywords (Audience):

High School / Introductory Chemistry

Keywords (Domain):

Laboratory Instruction

Keywords (Feature):

Secondary School Chemistry

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Kinetics

View: Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links

Citing Articles

View all 5 citing articles

Citation data is made available by participants in CrossRef's Cited-by Linking service. For a more comprehensive list of citations to this article, users are encouraged to perform a search in SciFinder.

This article has been cited by 5 ACS Journal articles (5 most recent appear below).

Egg-Citing! Isolation of Protoporphyrin IX from Brown Eggshells and Its Detection by Optical Spectroscopy and Chemiluminescence
Michelle L. Dean, Tyson A. Miller, and Christian Brückner
Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (6), 788-792
- Egg-Citing! Isolation of Protoporphyrin IX from Brown Eggshells and Its Detection by Optical Spectroscopy and Chemiluminescence
  Michelle L. Dean, Tyson A. Miller, and Christian Brückner
  Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (6), 788-792
  A simple and cost-effective laboratory experiment is described that extracts protoporphyrin IX from brown eggshells. The porphyrin is characterized by UV−vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. A chemiluminescence reaction (peroxyoxalate ester fragmentation) ...
  Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
Demonstrating the Antioxidative Capacity of Substances with Lightsticks
Robert R. Wieczorek and Katrin Sommer
Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (4), 468-469
- Demonstrating the Antioxidative Capacity of Substances with Lightsticks
  Robert R. Wieczorek and Katrin Sommer
  Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (4), 468-469
  The antioxidative capacity of phytochemical compounds is often discussed in life science courses (to prevent or slow cancer) and food science courses (to prevent the oxidation of sensitive ingredients). Thus, we developed a laboratory experiment where the ...
  Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
The Glyoxal Clock Reaction
Julie B. Ealy , Alexandra Rodriguez Negron , Jessica Stephens , and Rebecca Stauffer , Stanley D. Furrow
Journal of Chemical Education2007 84 (12), 1965
- The Glyoxal Clock Reaction
  Julie B. Ealy , Alexandra Rodriguez Negron , Jessica Stephens , and Rebecca Stauffer , Stanley D. Furrow
  Journal of Chemical Education2007 84 (12), 1965
  Research on the glyoxal clock reaction has led to adaptation of the clock reaction to a general chemistry experiment. This particular reaction is just one of many that used formaldehyde in the past. The kinetics of the glyoxal clock makes the reaction ...
  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
Promoting Graphical Thinking: Using Temperature and a Graphing Calculator To Teach Kinetics Concepts
Deborah A. Moore-Russo , José E. Cortés-Figueroa , Mark Case
Journal of Chemical Education2004 81 (1), 69
- Promoting Graphical Thinking: Using Temperature and a Graphing Calculator To Teach Kinetics Concepts
  Deborah A. Moore-Russo , José E. Cortés-Figueroa , Mark Case
  Journal of Chemical Education2004 81 (1), 69
  A Calculator-Based Laboratory (CBL) System, a graphing calculator, and a cooling piece of metal are used in a classroom demonstration to teach key concepts of a first-order chemical reaction.
  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
Using Calculator-Based Laboratory Technology to Conduct Undergraduate Chemical Research
Cynthia L. Sales , Nicole M. Ragan and Maureen Kendrick Murphy
Journal of Chemical Education2001 78 (5), 694
- Using Calculator-Based Laboratory Technology to Conduct Undergraduate Chemical Research
  Cynthia L. Sales , Nicole M. Ragan and Maureen Kendrick Murphy
  Journal of Chemical Education2001 78 (5), 694
  Calculator-based laboratory (CBL) technology can be used to initiate a viable undergraduate research program and at the same time teach ethical behavior in science and research. One research project, utilizing buckminsterfullerene, is described as a ...
  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links