2 years, 10 months ago
What chemical reaction causes a glow stick to glow?
I need a very decriptive answer on this, so If you don't know it, don't bother answering it. I think I may be on the right track if this has anything to do with hydrogen peroxide oxidizes and the phenyl oxalate ester, resulting in a chemical called phenol and an unstable acid ester. And then the chemical decomposes causing....? And thats where I get confuzzled :) So, if you can help, please do, thanks!
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M$1 Answer
The reaction between the different compounds in a glow stick causes a substantial release of energy. Just as in an incandescent light bulb, atoms in the materials are excited, causing electrons to rise to a higher energy level and then return to their normal levels. When the electrons return to their normal levels, they release energy as light. This process is called chemiluminesence. The chemical reaction in a glow stick usually involves several different steps. A typical commercial glow stick holds a hydrogen peroxide solution and a solution containing a phenyl oxalate ester and a fluorescent dye. Here's the sequence of events when the two solutions are combined:
1. The hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the phenyl oxalate ester, resulting in a chemical called phenol and an unstable peroxyacid ester.
2. The unstable peroxyacid ester decomposes, resulting in additional phenol and a cyclic peroxy compound.
3. The cyclic peroxy compound decomposes to carbon dioxide.
4. This decomposition releases energy to the dye.
5. The electrons in the dye atoms jump to a higher level, then fall back down, releasing energy in the form of light.
1. The hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the phenyl oxalate ester, resulting in a chemical called phenol and an unstable peroxyacid ester.
2. The unstable peroxyacid ester decomposes, resulting in additional phenol and a cyclic peroxy compound.
3. The cyclic peroxy compound decomposes to carbon dioxide.
4. This decomposition releases energy to the dye.
5. The electrons in the dye atoms jump to a higher level, then fall back down, releasing energy in the form of light.
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