Name: Veer Prajapati

Semester: 1

Research Day Notebook

(4% Term)

* This is to be submitted each Research Day so your teacher can make note of
your progress.
Date:
Research Skills:
❏ Annotated citations are clear and logical
❏ Selected appropriate sources for research and records data clearly
❏ Relevant data was collected and recorded in a logical and efficient manner.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glow_stick#cite_note-:0-17

Kuntzleman, Thomas Scott; Rohrer, Kristen; Schultz, Emeric (2012-06-12). "The Chemistry of Lightsticks:
Demonstrations To Illustrate Chemical Processes". Journal of Chemical Education. 89 (7): 910–916.
Bibcode:2012JChEd..89..910K. doi:10.1021/ed200328d. ISSN 0021-9584.

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Dibutyl phthalate. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
PubChem Compound Database. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/dibutyl_phthalate.

Information on topic: How glow sticks work and safety concerns

- Glow sticks emit light when two chemicals are mixed. The reaction between the two
chemicals is catalyzed by a base, usually sodium salicylate. The chemicals inside the
plastic tube are a mixture of the dye, the base catalyst, and diphenyl oxalate. The
chemical in the glass vial is hydrogen peroxide.
- In glow sticks, phenol is produced as a byproduct. It is advisable to keep the mixture away from
skin and to prevent accidental ingestion if the glow stick case splits or breaks. If spilled on skin,
the chemicals could cause slight skin irritation, swelling, or, in extreme circumstances, vomiting
and nausea. Some of the chemicals used in older glow sticks were thought to be potential
carcinogens.[24] The sensitizers used are polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, a class of
compounds known for their carcinogenic properties.
- Dibutyl phthalate, an ingredient sometimes used in glow sticks, has raised some health
concerns. It was put on California's list of suspected teratogens in 2006.
- Glow sticks contain ingredients that act as a plasticizer. This means if a glow stick leaks onto
anything plastic it can liquefy it.
- Diphenyl oxalate can sting and burn eyes, irritate and sting skin and can burn the mouth and
throat if ingested.
- Additionally, used glow sticks that remain in the environment cause long term pollution.
Date:
Research Skills:
❏ Annotated citations are clear and logical
❏ Selected appropriate sources for research and records data clearly
❏ Relevant data was collected and recorded in a logical and efficient manner.

https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/10/14/glowsticks/
Interest, P. author

B. C., Pearltreessays:, W. |, Epicrapbattlechemsays: Your Interesting Links | Zen Mischiefsays: Johnycsays: The
Chemistry of the Real World | Pearltreessays: ‫ العصي المتوهجة | أنا أصدق العلم‬:‫ الجزء الرابع‬،‫سلسلة إضاءة بدون كهرباء‬Says: Hurmsays:,
M., Glow stick experiment - Casa Bouquetsays: The niece wanted to know | Rosie Writes...says: Glow Sticks and
Highlighters and Skin Cancer, How Do Toys Glow in the Dark? - Skeptic.live | Skeptic.livesays: How Do Toys Glow in the
Dark? | ERA OBServersays: Imagine your only source of communication on a dark Halloween night is with glow sticks?
Well, Glow Sticks – Variants Of Glow Objects You Can Buy And Their Benefits – Get CRM Softwaresays: How Do Toys
Glow in the Dark? - Free Stuff Areasays: Incessant fluorescence – how do glow sticks work? – Not All Scientists Wear
Glassessays: Battery, Y. S., Battery, Y. S., & Question: I need the complete chemical equation for a glow stick. (2016,
November 9). The chemistry of glow sticks. Compound Interest. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from
https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/10/14/glowsticks/.

Information on topic:
- The glow stick contains two chemicals, a base catalyst, and a suitable dye (sensitizer, or
fluorophore). This creates an exergonic (a chemical process accompanied by the release of
energy) reaction. The chemicals inside the plastic tube are a mixture of the dye, the base
catalyst, and diphenyl oxalate. The chemical in the glass vial is hydrogen peroxide.
The toxic substance in a glow stick
- The substance inside these glowing items is usually dibutyl phthalate - a clear, oily,
colorless liquid. It is low in toxicity but can cause irritation to any part of the body that it
comes in contact with, including the eyes, skin and mouth. For Ingestion: Don't be
alarmed if lips and tongue glow for a few minutes.
- Chemiluminescence definition: Chemiluminescence is the emission of light as the result of a
chemical reaction.

Glow sticks actually contain two separate compartments, with two different chemical solutions. One solution, in the
case of most glow sticks, contains a diphenyl oxalate compound, along with a dye whose identity varies depending
on the desired colour. The other solution is one of hydrogen peroxide, a chemical recently featured in the ‘Everyday
Compounds’ series, and is contained within an inner glass cylinder. This cylinder keeps the two solutions separate
from each other, and prevents them from reacting. The action of snapping the glow stick breaks the glass cylinder,
allowing the two solutions to mix and kicking of the reaction leading to the glow.

The reaction that takes place is between the hydrogen peroxide solution and the diphenyl oxalate. The diphenyl
oxalate is oxidised by the hydrogen peroxide, which, amongst other products, produces the unstable compound
1,2-dioxetanedione. This compound is so unstable that it readily decomposes into carbon dioxide, also releasing
energy as it does so. It’s at this point that the compound being used as a dye comes into play. Although uninvolved
in the reaction, the electrons in the molecules of the dye can absorb the energy given off by the decomposition of
1,2-dioxetanedione, and in doing so they are promoted to an ‘excited state’. When the electrons fall back to their
‘ground state’ (i.e., their original energy), they lose their excess energy, in the form of photons of light. This process
is known as chemiluminescence.

The exact energy of the light given off is dependent on the structure of the molecule, and this allows different
colours to be achieved. A range of different chemicals can be used, including those shown in the graphic, as well
as one or two additional dyes. Whilst the molecules of the dye are always present in the solution, the hydrogen
peroxide and the diphenyl oxalate are slowly used up by the reaction, until one runs out and the reaction ceases –
and it’s at this point that the glow stick will stop emitting its glow.

You may also have noticed that the packaging of glow sticks often advises that they shouldn’t be cut open. There’s
also a chemical reason for this. As well as the hydrogen peroxide contained within the glass cylinder inside the
glow stick, the reaction of the diphenyl oxalate with the hydrogen peroxide can also produce small amounts of
phenol as a byproduct. Skin contact with the solution contained within glow sticks can therefore cause some
unwanted effects, including irritation and dermatitis.

On a final note, glow stick reactions, like many chemical processes, can be influenced by temperature. Warmer
temperatures will accelerate the rate of reaction, whilst cooler temperatures will decrease it. Want to make your
glow sticks last longer? Stick them in the freezer!