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DIY Glow Sticks

by Captain Molo on October 28, 2010 Table of Contents DIY Glow Sticks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: DIY Glow Sticks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 1: Mixing it Together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 2: Adding the Catalyst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 3: Finishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 4: Extra Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 5

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Glow-Sticks/

Intro: DIY Glow Sticks

I learned how to make glow sticks recently in my chemistry class. you just need a few "simple" chemicals, your probably going to have to buy these chemicals online, unless you can get/steal them from your chemistry class. Also, these amounts of the chemicals only make a small glowstick that doesnt last that long to make it last longer you're going to have to add more chemicals. so you need: supplies: -C12H12N2 O3 (Luminal) found here:http://crimescene.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=49 -NaOH (Sodium hydroxide) found here: http://secure.sciencecompany.com/Sodium-Hydroxide-Lye-Pellets-500g-P15983.aspx -H2 O2 (Hydrogen Peroxide) found here: Any drug store -k3 Fe(CN) (Potassium ferricyanide) found here: http://secure.sciencecompany.com/Potassium-Ferricyanide-500g-P6513C670.aspx -water -50 ml beaker or graduated cylinder -stir stick

Image Notes 1. Potassium ferricyanide 2. Sodium hydroxide 3. Lumina 4. Hydrogen Peroxide 5. 40 ml water 6. 1.5 ml

Step 1: Mixing it Together

now mix everything together EXCEPT for the catalyst (the Potassium ferricyanide) Start with the 1.5 ml of Hydrogen Peroxide with the 40 ml of water, then mix in the .04g of Luminal, and one piece or flake of Sodium hydroxide about the same amount as the Luminal. now mix the solution really well so its all disolved, remember dont add the Potassium ferricyanide ytet (the orange stuff)

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Glow-Sticks/

Image Notes 1. adding the Sodium hydroxide

Image Notes 1. adding the Luminal

Image Notes 1. mixing it together 2. dont add this until the end!

Step 2: Adding the Catalyst

Now when your ready add the catalyst, the Potassium ferricyanide, once you add this your solution will start to glow, the more you add the longer it will glow, but remember to put the solution you mixed in the previous step in what every you wanted to put it in.

Image Notes 1. adding the Potassium ferricyanide

Step 3: Finishing
now you've completed your glow stick, have funn!

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Step 4: Extra Fun

I was thinking and remembered that the reason why the solution glows is because the Potassium ferricyanide excites the electrons or something and makes them glow, and so i had the idea to run an electric current through it and it started to glow a bit, THEN i had the idea to tazer it, looked alot better, you can kinda see in the picture the blue glowing wire, it did look alot better in real life. but just have fun with it, it also looks really cool in the toilet, or on your skin. Enjoy!

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Glow-Sticks/

Related Instructables

how to make a glow staff by mattsmad

how to recharge a glow-stick by swinfos

"Glow in the Dark" How to make a Pemanent Reusable Glow stick (video) by cforchemistry

Make a Glow Stick Reaction Using Real Chemicals (video) by NurdRage

Make a 100ft glow stick (video) by NurdRage

Fishing With Glow Sticks! by Arbitror

Comments
33 comments Add Comment

sramtatadadam says:
That sounds a lot like the actuall Bohr-Model of an atom. And yeah it works here ieven when it's not completly right.

Apr 5, 2011. 2:59 PM REPLY

pmendona says:

Mar 15, 2011. 6:43 PM REPLY It glows because when you excite it(give it energy) the eletrons jump to a new energy level, when they jump back to their normal energy level, they release that extra energy in form of light. Nov 8, 2010. 6:03 AM REPLY

Dark Solar says:

Helpful Hint #7,461,039

You -yes, you- can make sodium hydroxide at home in the privacy and convenience of your very own kitchen. Tired of the paperwork? Tired of the constant interviews with D.H.S. and F.B.I. field agents? Tired of waiting weeks for the UPS guy only to recieve a corporate notification that your shipment has been back-ordered and will arrive approximately 2 weeks after never? Well, then, it's your lucky day!! MATERIALS: (1) BOX OF BAKING SODA (1) BOTTLE OF DISTILLED WATER (1L) EQUIPMENT: (1) STAINLESS STEEL OR CAST-IRON POT (1) STAINLESS STEEL SPOON (1) SEALABLE PLASTIC OR GLASS BOTTLE (1) KITCHEN RANGE (gas ranges are preferable but an electric will do) (1) DUST MASK (optional but very highly recommended) (1) FUNNEL DO: -ADD 1 CUP BAKING SODA TO POT AND SPREAD INTO EVEN LAYER. -ON RANGE, ROAST BAKING SODA OVER MEDIUM-HIGH HEAT. -AS BAKING SODA BEGINS TO BUBBLE, USE SPOON TO GENTLY STIR. **AVOID CREATING A DUST CLOUD OVER YOUR ROASTING POT. A DUST MASK WILL NOT PROTECT YOUR EYES** -WHEN CONTENTS OF POT SHOW NO FURTHER SIGNS OF GAS EVOLUTION, REMOVE FROM HEAT AND ALLOW TO COOL. -ONCE SIDE OF ROASTING POT IS HOT TO TOUCH BUT NOT HOT ENOUGH TO BURN, RETURN TO LOW HEAT -VERY SLOWLY ADD DISTILLED WATER TO ROASTING POT WHILE STIRRING GENTLY UNTIL SODIUM CARBONATE IS COMPLETELY DISSOLVED OR YOU RUN OUT OF WATER. -REMOVE FROM HEAT, COVER AND ALLOW TO COOL -INSERT FUNNEL IN MOUTH OF SEALABLE GLASS OR PLASTIC BOTTLE AND POUR OFF LIQUID. -SEAL BOTTLE **WARNING: SODIUM HYDROXIDE WILL CAUSE SOME PLASTICS TO BECOME BRITTLE OVER TIME. ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES WHEN HANDLING AND KEEP AN EYEWASH BOTTLE FULL OF DILUTE VINEGAR HANDY.** You are now the proud owner of an extremely useful piece of data and a bottle of sodium hydroxide with a concentration > or = 95%. Try not to get it in your eyes.

echaa says:

Mar 11, 2011. 7:02 PM REPLY Doesn't sodium bicarbonate decompose into sodium carbonate, water, and CO2? Obviously, the CO2 and water will simply be given off as gasses. I have 2 questions then: Does the average kitchen stove even reach 500+ F, and how do you turn NaCO3 into NaOH?

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Dark Solar says:

Nov 25, 2010. 7:21 AM REPLY As a general reply for everyone's consumption and as a corrective measure to cover some things I left out of the original proceedural comment: 1. So everyone knows what they're going for temperature-wise, sodium bicarbonate decomposes into sodium hydroxide at 270C/518F. 2. Addition of water to dry-state sodium hydroxide sets up an endothermic reaction. Do this very, very slowly with cold, distilled water to avoid all possibility of flash-boiling.

bigschwa says:

Nov 23, 2010. 3:21 PM REPLY Thanks so much but I do have one question. Can you use the dry NaOH just like the stuff you use to be able to buy? I have been making biodiesel for years and the meth heads have made my life more difficult.

Dark Solar says:

Nov 25, 2010. 7:03 AM REPLY I'm a little fuzzy on bio-diesel process but if your unit calls for dry-state NaOH, then absolutely you can. Just be certain that the gas evolution step is 100% complete and you'll be good to go. If it wants for a solution of a specific concentration, that's a little bit of a different animal but still completely do-able.

purplemonkeydishwasher says:
Isn't sodium hydroxide the crystals in drano? Or maybe Canadian drano is different?

Nov 15, 2010. 10:02 PM REPLY

Dark Solar says:

Nov 21, 2010. 4:32 AM REPLY According to the label, there is sodium hydroxide in Crystal Drano. Whether or not that's what gives it that nice sparkle I can't say; according to Wikipedia the crystals are just common salt, but I only half-trust Wikipedia. Anyway, given the other components of Crystal Drano, it probably wouldn't be suitable in this instance unless you could work out a process to remove the sodium nitrate, aluminium shavings and table salt...which actually sounds like a fun project in and of itself. Thanks for the idea!!!

Captain Molo says:

wow thanks for adding this!

Nov 8, 2010. 7:11 AM REPLY

Dark Solar says:

Glad to be of service.

Nov 21, 2010. 4:21 AM REPLY

s0peil says:
how long it will glowing ?

Nov 27, 2010. 12:21 PM REPLY

juanbullet says:

Nov 7, 2010. 9:14 PM REPLY when I was in the National Guard we cut a Chem Lite open and poured the liquid on an ---hole who was sleeping, then had him called to the commander's tent. Good laugh, but helped me know you can safely pour the fluid on children's Halloween costumes so they are easier to see from cars driving by.

Nicholin says:
Usually the chem lite (glow sticks) say nontoxic on the packaging.

Nov 11, 2010. 9:54 AM REPLY

sismart says:

Nov 4, 2010. 9:31 AM REPLY My question is, what do you recommend putting the mixture in to make it portable, yet safe? I can't very well give my child an open test tube to walk around with :P

DabeAltis says:

Nov 4, 2010. 8:13 PM REPLY I once purchased, I think @ Hobby Lobby, some plastic test tubes with screw on lids that would be perfect for this. They are actually unexpanded pop bottles. They are made of polycarbonate which is extremely tough, at room temperature you probably couldn't break one with a hammer. As a plus, the lids seal really well. They have to for soda pop. Look for them where kid's scientific stuff is sold. There, your crisis is solved. By the way, my hat's off to the author. This is fascinating stuff.

mysss says:
Or just give your child a test tube full of glowing green liquid and see what happens. ;-P

Nov 11, 2010. 5:43 AM REPLY

Dark Solar says:

Nov 8, 2010. 6:27 AM REPLY Oops, my fault. In the "make your own sodium hydroxide" comment, roasting of sodium bicarbonate DOES NOT CREATE SODIUM CARBONATE . Rather, it converts NaHCO3 to NaOH (dry-state sodium hydroxide) by driving off carbon dioxide. I'm getting old...things are starting to slip away. \: (

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Iceberg86300 says:
Will higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide help or hinder the end result?

Nov 4, 2010. 9:26 AM REPLY

Anthony312 says:
help.

Nov 5, 2010. 4:15 AM REPLY

Treknology says:

Nov 4, 2010. 12:19 PM REPLY I would be doing all the intense mixing BEFORE adding the H202. Being as unstable as it is, you could well find that the free O- has escaped...

Anthony312 says:
Even if you stir it, it takes years for the O2 in H202 to escape. It is not very unstable, until a catalyst is added.

Nov 5, 2010. 4:15 AM REPLY

Speedmite says:
I like blue but, can you get other colors?

Nov 4, 2010. 6:59 PM REPLY

Anthony312 says:
Use different chemicals than luminal

Nov 5, 2010. 4:14 AM REPLY

Speedmite says:

Nov 4, 2010. 6:57 PM REPLY Omg. Its like a cooking show, but it glows and would probably would kill you if you ate it. All measured out, and "But I prepared one earlier" is all in here. Good ible. Might have to do this, looks cool.

toad says:
Try putting it in the microwave, Makes it brighter but shortens the life.

Oct 29, 2010. 5:31 PM REPLY

boygenuis32 says:

Nov 4, 2010. 1:30 PM REPLY You realize the ferrocyanide would break down in the microwave and create poisonous gas, right? Not a good idea. Cyanide is nasty stuff, and oly a little is necessary to put you 6 deep.

djbarista says:
Maybe a little bit more time at school.....

Nov 4, 2010. 12:23 PM REPLY

usafa92 says:

Nov 4, 2010. 11:43 AM REPLY From the linked website for Potassium Ferricyanide - "Compound itself has low toxicity but decomposes on strong heating to evolve highly toxic fumes." I guess that nixes the microwave idea. I'm leery of playing with anything with the word "cyanide" in it...

illovich says:

Nov 3, 2010. 11:06 AM REPLY I thought I should point out a small typo, which caused at least two errors in your instructions that could cause further confusion 1) "Luminal" is the trade name for phenobarbital, which is also the chemical formula that you list. Luminol ( C8 H7 N3 O2 ) is the chemiluminescent stuff that people want to make glowsticks. 2) C12 H12 N2 O3 is phenobarbital, which is a sedative and not chemiluminescent It's a schedule-IV drug, which might be why searching for places to buy 'Luminal" won't be fruitful (and I wouldn't necessarily trust that what you got in the mail was Luminal anyway).

mmm_chewy says:
i found luminol here : http://crimescene.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=49

Oct 29, 2010. 8:29 AM REPLY

Captain Molo says:

oh thanks! i wasnt having much luck finding i

Oct 29, 2010. 8:53 AM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Glow-Sticks/

Captain Molo says:

*it

Oct 29, 2010. 11:57 AM REPLY

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