The Magic in Glow Sticks

Oct 15
08:18

2012

Micko Stojanovic

Micko Stojanovic

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Shining with glow stick objects in get-togethers is these days is a popular trend. These products are outstanding and like an enchantment, they sparkle, however they don’t become heated!

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To shine with glow stick objects in get-togethers is these days a popular trend. These products are outstanding and like an enchantment,The Magic in Glow Sticks Articles they sparkle, however they don’t become heated! You can get them in several sorts and shapes and sizes and we become awe-struck about how our wine glasses or fingers or ears of our host are glowing. But all that glow stick objects comprise of are simply some chemical components, which undergo chemical process and give out light.
The Marvelous Chemistry
The wonder in the glow stick articles is brought about by chemistry. The glow stick accessories comprise of one or more than one glass vials which comprise of certain chemical components. Glow stick is to be bent and then it starts its work.  This is due to the fact that, bending lets the glass vials inside glow sticks crack and the chemicals inside them are secreted. When these chemical substances are react together, a chemical action occurs, which gives out light. 
The Chemical Components Brought into Use in Glow Articles
Chemical reaction can bring about any magic. Just like it makes water by combining a highly combustible gas named hydrogen, and a combustion-supporting gas named oxygen, it can produce light with the combination of 2 chemical components. 
One of the glow stick chemicals is commonly hydrogen peroxide, which certainly you are well familiar with, as it is normally an ingredient of our bathroom cabinet. The other chemical is a type of phenyl oxalate ester. This is a safe substance and is hardly made use of somewhere else than glow sticks. Commonly, esters are synthesized by blending alcohols and acids and exist naturally in fruits. They are used in fragrances and plastics also. Thus, you can see that both these chemical substances made use of in glow objects are safe and hence you and your children can make use of them without worrying. 
When after breaking of vials, these 2 chemicals are put together, energy is created which is adequate to create light. The energy is not so huge that it can give out heat or bang. It is simply sufficient to emit a gentle, charming light. 
Secret of Colors
We are aware by now how light is produced in glow stick products. However, we haven’t understood yet how colors are emitted in them. What is the magic behind a variety of hues of light in glow articles? The thing is not very difficult to understand. In addition to the above chemical components, the glow sticks also consist of a 3rd kind of chemical substance which is a fluorescent pigment. When the above chemical components blend with the pigment, the pigment releases colors too besides light. 
Influence of Heat
Temperature has a quite important role in the working of glow items. When temperature is less, their glitter becomes less radiant but lasts for many hours, while, at raised heat, the light becomes more intense, but doesn’t keep on for long. You can utilize this in changing the glow stick performance according to your need. E.g., when you need brightly glittering glow sticks for a shorter period, immerse them in temperate water or even under sun. They will be supercharged and you will have a marvelous impact. On the other hand, if you require the glow sticks to produce less light, but for a longer period, keep them in freezer for some duration before utilizing them and you will get a moderate light which will work for a longer duration.