Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Light generating reaction with light-sticks.

Tacho - 13-11-2005 at 02:18

I´m planning to tear a couple of light sticks apart and keep the 2 liquids in two different flasks, maybe dilute them, and make a light-generating reaction demostration.

IIRC, one liquid is luminol+dye and the other is H2O2 diluted in some solvent. The package says "non-toxic" and a quick search in the net showed that I'm not the first one to think of it and it's pretty safe.

Is anybody aware of a danger that cannot be avoided by careful manipulation and safe storage?

Marvin - 13-11-2005 at 06:41

Light sticks are a phenyl oxalate ester and dye in organic solvent (I think butyl pthallate) and dilute H2O2 in an ampule.

No point in going over old ground but my experience is that cutting the devices open causes dimming/shortening of the reaction and headaches.