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The Fluorescence of Lignum nephriticum: A Flash Back to the Past and a Simple Demonstration of Natural Substance Fluorescence
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Abstract
This article describes a simple but visually striking demonstration of fluorescence from the aqueous extract of the tropical hardwood Pterocarpus indicus. It illustrates the first recorded observation of fluorescence, noted over 400 years ago when the wood was known as Lignum nephriticum.The fact that the strong, blue fluorescence is dramatically pH dependent provides an interesting dimension to the demonstration. A yellow filter allows a simple demonstration of the Stokes shift. Highlighting the historical significance of Lignum nephriticum and discussing some of the relevant studies suggesting the chemical origin of the fluorescence provides a context for this demonstration.
Keywords (Audience):
Elementary / Middle School ScienceKeywords (Domain):
DemonstrationsKeywords (Feature):
JCE DigiDemos: Tested DemonstrationsKeywords (Pedagogy):
Hands-On Learning / ManipulativesKeywords (Subject):
Acids / BasesCiting 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 7 ACS Journal articles (5 most recent appear below).
A Brief History of Fluorescence and Phosphorescence before the Emergence of Quantum Theory
Bernard Valeur and Mário N. Berberan-SantosJournal of Chemical Education2011 88 (6), 731-738A Brief History of Fluorescence and Phosphorescence before the Emergence of Quantum Theory
Bernard Valeur and Mário N. Berberan-SantosJournal of Chemical Education2011 88 (6), 731-738Fluorescence and phosphorescence are two forms of photoluminescence used in modern research and in practical applications. The early observations of these phenomena, before the emergence of quantum theory, highlight the investigation into the mechanism of ...
Fluorescence Using Turmeric
Mark A. MilanickJournal of Chemical Education2011 88 (3), 260-260Fluorescence Using Turmeric
Mark A. MilanickJournal of Chemical Education2011 88 (3), 260-260A straightforward method for observing turmeric fluorescence is described using standard white light and easily obtainable blue filters.
Getting Students of All Ages Excited about Fluorescence
Mark A. Muyskens and Maurica S. StewartJournal of Chemical Education2011 88 (3), 259-260Getting Students of All Ages Excited about Fluorescence
Mark A. Muyskens and Maurica S. StewartJournal of Chemical Education2011 88 (3), 259-260This letter to the editor makes several suggestions to a recent classroom activity connection. These recommendations include: using a yellow filter to extend the activity; amending the description of vitamin B tablet fluorescence to say the tablet must ...
Classroom Activity Connections: Lessons from Fluorescence
Aoife MacCormac, Emma O’Brien and Richard O’KennedyJournal of Chemical Education2010 87 (7), 685-686Classroom Activity Connections: Lessons from Fluorescence
Aoife MacCormac, Emma O’Brien and Richard O’KennedyJournal of Chemical Education2010 87 (7), 685-686This Classroom Activity Connections paper describes an extension to the JCE Classroom Activity #68 “Turning on the Light”. A number of additional common items that display fluorescence under UV light are described, including fruits, vegetables, and ...
Structure and Formation of the Fluorescent Compound of Lignum nephriticum
A. Ulises Acuña, Francisco Amat-Guerri, Purificación Morcillo, Marta Liras and Benjamín RodríguezOrganic Letters2009 11 (14), 3020-3023Structure and Formation of the Fluorescent Compound of Lignum nephriticum
A. Ulises Acuña, Francisco Amat-Guerri, Purificación Morcillo, Marta Liras and Benjamín RodríguezOrganic Letters2009 11 (14), 3020-3023The intense blue fluorescence of the infusion of Lignum nephriticum (Eysenhardtia polystachya), first observed in the sixteenth century, is due to a novel four-ring tetrahydromethanobenzofuro[2,3-d]oxacine which is not present in the plant but is the ...
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- Received: August 03, 2009
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