Light stick

Temperature and reaction rate. A chemical reaction in the Cyalume light sticks produces light as it takes place. 

Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, "Light- sticks," Chemical Demonstrations, A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry, Vol. 1 (The University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, 1983), pp. 146-152. Cyalume lightsticks are used to demonstrate the effect of temperature on reaction rates. 

The Statue of Liberty is green because of a chemical reaction. Light sticks used on Halloween work because of a chemical reaction. In fact, chefs, doctors, and police officers all use chemical reactions to help them do their jobs. 

Light sticks, or glow sticks, are plastic tubes that contain glass vials of chemicals. When the plastic stick is bent, the glass vial breaks. This allows the chemicals inside the glass vial to come into contact with the chemicals inside the plastic part of the light stick. This starts a chemical... 

Harris, Tom. How Light Sticks Work. Howstuffworks. Available online. URL http //science.howstuffworks.com/light-stick.htm. Accessed Dec. 17, 2006. 

FIGURE 14.2 Molecular dynamics simulation of the diffusion of benzene within a hydrated lipid bilayer membrane. Benzene molecules are shown as Corey-Pauling-Koltun (CPK) models atoms in the phospholipid head groups are shown as ball and stick models and hydrocarbon chains and water molecules as dark and light stick models, respectively. (Reproduced with permission from Bassolino-Klinaas D, Alper HE, Stouch TR. Biochemistry 1993 32 12624-37.)... 

Submerge one light stick in a bath of cold water (about 10°C). 

Allow each light stick to reach the same temperature as its bath. 

A familiar example of chemiluminescence is the light emitted by a firefly. In the firefly reaction, an enzyme, luciferase, catalyzes the oxidative phosphorylation reaction of luciferin with adenosine triphosphate to produce oxyluciferin, carbon dioxide, adenosine monophosphate, and light. Chemiluminescence involving a biological or enzyme reaction is often termed bioluminescence. The popular light stick is another familiar example of chemiluminescence. 

Light sticks are plastic rods that contain two solu-... 

When the light stick is bent, the glass ampoule is broken and the two solutions mix. The reaction begins. Energy is given off when the two solutions react. 

Explain why the chemical reaction in the light stick is not exothermic, even though it produces energy. 

What are some advantages of light sticks over conventional light sources ... 

When do you think it might be important that light sticks come in different colors ... 

Chemiluminescent reactions in emergency light sticks, lightning, and the luminol reaction convert the energy of chemical bonds into light energy. 

These light sticks glow as a result of the energy released by a chemical reaction. 

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