ChemiluminescenceProducing light with chemicals

Rachel Eisenbraun

Chemistry Outreach, Chem 292

Purpose The purpose of this experiment is

to demonstrate the process of chemiluminescence.

Demonstration Equal amounts of an oxidizing

solution and a luminescing solution were mixed.

The resulting blue solution glowed.

Topics of Discussion Luminescence Oxidation Reaction Kinetics

Luminescence Matter is luminescent if it gives off

energy in the form of light. Chemiluminescence is light which

results from a chemical reaction The light emitted in such reactions

has differing degrees of intensity and lifetime.

Oxidation Oxidation occurs when a molecule

loses one or more electrons. Whenever oxidation occurs,

reduction must also occur. Reduction is the gain electrons.

The luminescing solution was oxidized in this experiment.

Reaction Kinetics Kinetics simply refers to how fast a

reaction will occur Although this it was not shown in this

demonstration, this experiment also demonstrates the effect of temperature on the rate of reactions.

If the solution were cooled, the reaction would occur slower causing the solution to glow longer but not as bright.

If the solution were heated up, the solution would glow brighter but not as long.

Conclusions This demonstration produced light

through a kind of chemical reaction called oxidation/reduction reaction.

The light was the result of chemical reactions

The light did not result in heat so is often termed “cold light”

Comments The term "chemiluminescence"

was first coined by Eilhardt Weidemann in 1888.

Chemiluminescence is a popular demonstration among teachers.

Glow sticks are a form of chemiluminescence.

Fireflies produce “cold light” by a chemiluminescent reaction