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Glowmatography

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Thomas S. Kuntzleman , Anna E. Comfort and Bruce W. Baldwin

Department of Chemistry, Spring Arbor University, Arbor, MI 49283

J. Chem. Educ., 2009, 86 (1), p 64

DOI: 10.1021/ed086p64

Publication Date (Web): January 1, 2009

Abstract

The exocharmic glow of chemiluminescent lightsticks captivates students of all ages. The chemistry behind lightsticks is used to convincingly teach the practice and theory of chromatography. In extension to the chromatographic procedure described, dye(s) collected in the eluate during the chromatographic process are analyzed using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Thus, the mystery of the lightstick becomes a useful introduction to undergraduate topics such as chromatography, intermolecular forces, electronic absorption and emission spectroscopy, and catalysis. The parsing out of such an information rich system allows the instructor to adopt this demonstration or laboratory to the chemical education level and chemical discipline of the educational audience.

Keywords (Audience):

Elementary / Middle School Science

Keywords (Domain):

Demonstrations

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Aromatic Compounds

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Citing Articles

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This article has been cited by 3 ACS Journal articles (3 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
Molecular Models of Compounds in Lightsticks
William F. Coleman
Journal of Chemical Education2009 86 (1), 128
- Molecular Models of Compounds in Lightsticks
  William F. Coleman
  Journal of Chemical Education2009 86 (1), 128
  Molecular models of compounds in lightsticks presented include 1,2-Dioxetanedione; rubrene, 5,6,11,12-tetra-phenylnaphthacene; and 5,12-Bis(phenylethynyl)naphthacene.
  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links