1. Chemistry 30 Student Directed Study - Aaron
Glow / Light Sticks
Chemistry 30 Student Directed Study - Aaron

2. How does this relate to chemistry
We got a small blurb earlier this year about how light is given off in chemical reactions when energy is given to essentially make an electron jump, giving off a photon. The chemicals used are also quite familiar, such as carbolic acid, phenyl oxalate ester, and hydrogen peroxide.

3. Chemical Ingredients All glowsticks have; A phenyl oxalate ester
Hydrogen peroxide
Glowsticks have one of each (or sometimes a mix);
6-methylacridinium iodide (Infrared)
Rhodamine B (Red)
Violanthrone (Orange)
Rubrene (Yellow)
9,10-Bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene (Green)
9,10-Diphenylanthracene (Blue)

4. Why?
-The hydrogen peroxide + phenyl oxalate ester (oxidization reaction) creates peroxyacid ester.
-Peroxyacid ester decomposes to create phenol and cyclic peroxy acid.
-Cyclic peroxyacid then turns into the final chemical, carbon dioxide. This gives off the final energy for the light.
-The electrons jump from a lower energy level to a higher one, then fall back down, releasing the light.
The phenyl oxalate ester and hydrogen peroxide are the ones that do anything chemically. The dye is only responsible for the colours given off. All of the energy used to make this light is provided by the phenyl oxalate. The hydrogen peroxide is the switch that gives off all this energy. The hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the phenyl oxalate, turning it into acid, then finally carbon dioxide. The only byproducts are phenol (an acid), the carbon dioxide, and the energy. This is because of multiple decomposition reactions. All that energy is then given off as light in the dye.

5. Different types of glow sticks
There are many different kinds all made by different companies. There are glow in the dark glasses, bracelets, regular glow sticks, emergency glow sticks, etc. The glasses and bracelets are made from a very thin tube, whilst regular and emergency glow sticks are thicker. Past partying and safety, you can make them bigger for camping, and smaller for pocket purposes.

6. How is it made?
First, they start with the plastic tube and end caps. They fill this with phenyl oxalate ester and fluorescent dye. They will then fill a thin glass tube with hydrogen peroxide. Put the glass tube in the bigger plastic tube and seal it with the end caps.

7. Problems? How do I use it?
Some of the stuff in the older glow sticks are from a known group of chemicals that have carcinogenic roots. Glow sticks can be thrown away regularly but the plastic cannot be recycled due to irritation caused by the chemicals. Neither old or new are good when digested. Found that out myself.
We use glow sticks in outdoor exercises for Cadets. They are used to mark the wood areas and the bathrooms, as well as the flammable materials. It is quite annoying to go outside and not be able to figure out where the bathrooms are, or even where your tent is when there aren’t any glow sticks.

8. Additional Information?
Glow sticks were patented by no less than fifteen people starting in the 1960s. This was quite revolutionary, due to the easy availability and lack of flames. The different types were able to be thrown, put underwater, and a variant was made that could light itself upon an impact.
Putting a glowstick near a source of heat, such as a microwave, will cause it to glow brighter, but it also might explode.

9. Bibliography
Porto, M. (2017). How to Dispose of Glow Sticks. Retrieved May 25, 2017, from
Glow stick. (2017, May 14). Retrieved May 25, 2017, from
Harris, T. (2001, November 02). How Light Sticks Work. Retrieved May 25, 2017, from
Bis-(2,4,5-trichloro-6-(pentyloxycarbonyl)phenyl)oxalate. (2017, May 14). Retrieved May 25, 2017, from (pentyloxycarbonyl)phenyl)oxalate
10 Things that you didn’t know about Glowsticks. (n.d.). Retrieved May 25, 2017, from
D. (2014, November 01). Glow stick blows up in kid's face. Retrieved May 25, 2017, from