Prev. Article Next Article Table of Contents

Activity

The Effects of Temperature on Lightsticks

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

Purchase the full-text

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

J. Chem. Educ., 1999, 76 (1), p 40A

DOI: 10.1021/ed076p40A

Publication Date (Web): January 1, 1999

Abstract

Lightsticks contain dilute hydrogen peroxide in a phthalic ester solvent enclosed in a glass vial, which is surrounded by a solution containing phenyl oxalate ester and a fluorescent dye. When the lightstick is "snapped" and the vial is broken, the two solutions react to produce an intermediate that transfers energy to a dye molecule. Visible light is emitted when the excited dye molecule returns to the ground state. Additional details on chemiluminescence and the reaction can be found in this issue of theJournal and other sources.

Keywords (Audience):

Elementary / Middle School Science

Keywords (Domain):

Laboratory Instruction

Keywords (Feature):

JCE Classroom Activity

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Photochemistry

View: Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links

Citing Articles

View all 2 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 2 ACS Journal articles (2 most recent appear below).

The Chemistry of Lightsticks: Demonstrations To Illustrate Chemical Processes
Thomas Scott Kuntzleman, Kristen Rohrer, and Emeric Schultz
Journal of Chemical Education2012 Article ASAP
- The Chemistry of Lightsticks: Demonstrations To Illustrate Chemical Processes
  Thomas Scott Kuntzleman, Kristen Rohrer, and Emeric Schultz
  Journal of Chemical Education2012 Article ASAP
  Lightsticks, or glowsticks as they are sometimes called, are perhaps the chemist’s quintessential toy. Because they are easy to activate and appealing to observe, experimenting with lightsticks provides a great way to get young people interested in ...
  Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
Customized Laboratory Experience in Physical Chemistry
Karen J. Castle and Stephanie M. Rink
Journal of Chemical Education2010 87 (12), 1360-1363
- Customized Laboratory Experience in Physical Chemistry
  Karen J. Castle and Stephanie M. Rink
  Journal of Chemical Education2010 87 (12), 1360-1363
  A new physical chemistry laboratory experience has been designed for upper-level undergraduate chemistry majors. Students customize the first 10 weeks of their laboratory experience by choosing their own set of experiments (from a manual of choices) and ...
  Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links