1. By: Mackenzie Hunter

2.  Glow Sticks are common at
parties, concerts, and many
other public events and have
been for 40 years
 They produce light with no
electricity or batteries
 The light that is produced
occurs because of
Chemiluminescence
 Chemiluminescence is a
chemical reaction and it begins
to occur when the glow stick is
bent and snapped

3.  Glow sticks have an outer and inner tube
 The outer tube is filled with a phenyl oxalate ester and
a fluorescent probe with color dye
 The smaller, inner tube is filled with hydrogen peroxide

4.  When the tube is
snapped, the chemicals
begin to mix
 A peroxyacid ester
forms and is very
unstable
 Due to being unstable,
it decomposes into a
peroxy compound and
phenol

5.  The peroxyacid ester decomposing causes the electrons to
be in an excited state
 A transfer of energy from the decomposing ester that is in an
excited state to the dye molecule occurs

6.  The excited electrons in
the dye molecule fall back
to their regular state
 This produces energy that
is given off as a photon of
light, which is the light we
see in glow sticks!

7.  Not a part of our daily
life, but are a fun asset
to many events we
attend
 Glow sticks come in
handy because they are
disposable, inexpensive,
and waterproof
 Used for entertainment,
lights for divers,
flashlights for
campers, and even tools
for the military
 Knowing the chemistry
gives us a deeper

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(2006): 295-99. SpringerLink. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.
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Gray, Theodore. "Hacking Light: Make Groovy Glowing Designs with a Little Drain Cleaner and
a Light Stick." Popular Science (2010): n. pag. General OneFile. Web. 8 Apr. 2013.
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Marsella, Gail B.C. "Chemiluminescence, the Cold Light." Chem Matters Oct. 1995: 12-14.
Print.
Sandan, Rene. "Glowstick History." Articlesphere.com. Larry Lim, 2005. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.
http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Glowstick- History/159299.